NYS Public Health Legal Manual: A Guide for Judges, Attorneys ...

N E W Y O R K S T A T E
PUBLIC HEALTH
LEGAL MANUAL
A GUIDE for
JUDGES, ATTORNEYS and
PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
NEW YORK STATE
Unified Court System
NEW YORK STATE
BAR ASSOCIATION

NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
Detail of the New York State Supreme Court, 80 Centre Street, NYC. Photograph by: Teodors Ermansons

NEW YORK STATE
PUBLIC HEALTH
LEGAL MANUAL
A GUIDE for
JUDGES, ATTORNEYS and
PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
MICHAEL COLODNER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NEW YORK STATE
Unified Court System
NEW YORK STATE
BAR ASSOCIATION
IN COLLABORATION WITH
NEW YORK CITY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE

New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education publications
are intended to provide current and accurate information to help attorneys
maintain their professional competence. Publications are distributed
with the understanding that NYSBA does not render any legal, accounting
or other professional service. Attorneys using publications or orally conveyed
information in dealing with a specific client’s or their own legal matters
should also research original sources of authority.
We consider the publication of any NYSBA practice book as the beginning
of a dialogue with our readers. Periodic updates to this book will give
us the opportunity to incorporate your suggestions regarding additions or
corrections. Please send your comments to: CLE Publications Director,
New York State Bar Association, One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207.
Copyright 2011
New York State Bar Association
All rights reserved
ISBN: 1-57969-319-9
Product Number: 4179
ii

EDITORIAL BOARD
ROBERT ABRAMS, ESQ.
HON. RICHARD T. ANDRIAS
BARBARA A. ASHELD, ESQ.
HOLLY MITCHELL DELLENBAUGH, ESQ.
HON. SHIRLEY TROUTMAN
ROBERT N. SWIDLER, ESQ.
ROSLYN WINDHOLZ, ESQ.
RONALD P. YOUNKINS, ESQ.
MICHAEL COLODNER, ESQ., COUNSEL
iii

FOREWORD
Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman:
In today’s world, we face many natural and man-made catastrophic
threats, including the very real possibility of a global influenza outbreak
or other public health emergency that could infect millions of people.
While it is impossible to predict the timing or severity of the next public
health emergency, our government has a responsibility to anticipate and
prepare for such events. An important element of this planning process is
advance coordination between public health authorities and our judicial
and legal systems. The major actors in any public health crisis must
understand the governing laws ahead of time, and must know what their
respective legal roles and responsibilities are. What is the scope of the
government’s emergency and police powers When may these be
invoked, and by which officials What are the rights of people who may
be quarantined or isolated by government and public health officials
These questions must be researched and answered now—not in the
midst of an emergency—so that the responsible authorities have a readymade
resource to help them make quick, effective decisions that protect
the public interest. This New York State Public Health Legal Manual is
designed to serve this purpose. It will be an absolutely essential tool in
guiding us through the effective management of future public health
disasters. I am pleased that the New York State Unified Court System was
able to play a key role in this historic collaboration along with the New
York State Bar Association, the New York State Department of Health,
and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. I
thank each of these organizations for their invaluable cooperation and
contributions.
Stephen P. Younger, President,
New York State Bar Association
Our vulnerability to public heath threats is more apparent than ever
before. Thus, it has become increasingly essential that public health officials,
judges and lawyers be prepared to deftly navigate the myriad statutes
and rules that govern public health disasters. This Manual, which is
the product of a collaborative effort, captures information gleaned from
past disasters and will serve as a tremendous resource for future needs.
The New York State Bar Association is grateful for the excellent work of
v

the Office of Court Administration in producing this manual, and for the
tremendous support from the New York State Department of Health and
the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, without
which this Manual would not have been possible.
vi

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Committee gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Robert L.
Burhans, former Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness of the
New York State Department of Health, and Lawrence M. Martin, Esq., of
the New York City Law Department, in the preparation of this Manual.
Daniel McMahon, Esq., Kirsten Downer, Esq., Joan Fucillo, Lori Herzing
and the staff at the New York State Bar Association ensured its timely
publication.
vii

CONTENTS
Foreword.............................................................................. v
Acknowledgments ............................................................... vii
[1.0] I. Introduction ................................................................. 1
[1.1] II. Applicable Law ........................................................... 2
[1.2] A. New York Public Health Law............................... 2
[1.3] B. State Sanitary Code............................................... 2
[1.4] C. Laws of the City of New York.............................. 2
[1.5] D. Local Ordinances .................................................. 3
[1.6] III. Jurisdiction Over Public Health Issues........................ 4
[1.7] A. Local Health Officers............................................ 4
[1.8] 1. Identity ........................................................... 4
[1.9] 2. Responsibilities .............................................. 4
[1.10] B. State Commissioner of Health .............................. 5
[1.11] C. Federal Government.............................................. 6
[1.12] IV. Isolation and Quarantine ............................................. 7
[1.13] A. Definitions............................................................. 7
[1.14] 1. State Sanitary Code........................................ 7
[1.15] a. Isolation .................................................... 7
[1.16] b. Quarantine ................................................ 7
[1.17] 2. New York City Health Code.......................... 7
[1.18] a. Isolation .................................................... 7
[1.19] b. Quarantine ................................................ 7
[1.20] B. Communicable Diseases Covered......................... 8
[1.21] C. Identification and Reporting of Communicable
Diseases................................................................. 9
[1.22] 1. Physician ........................................................ 9
[1.23] 2. Laboratory...................................................... 10
[1.24] 3. Local Health Officer ...................................... 10
[1.25] D. Authority to Isolate ............................................... 10
[1.26] 1. Physician ........................................................ 10
[1.27] 2. Local Health Officer ...................................... 11
[1.28] E. Authority to Quarantine ........................................ 11
[1.29] F. Voluntary Isolation and Quarantine...................... 12
[1.30] G. Involuntary Isolation and Quarantine:
Constitutional Standards ....................................... 13
[1.31] 1. Substantive Due Process ................................ 13
[1.32] 2. Procedural Due Process.................................. 13
[1.33] H. Involuntary Isolation and Quarantine: Issuance of
Health Order by Local Health Officer .................. 15
[1.34] 1. Authority ........................................................ 15
ix

[1.35] 2. Standard for Health Order .............................. 15
[1.36] 3. Contents of Health Order ............................... 15
[1.37] 4. Duration of Health Order ............................... 16
[1.38] 5. Enforcement of Health Order......................... 16
[1.39] a. Civil Enforcement..................................... 16
[1.40] b. Criminal Enforcement .............................. 17
[1.41] I. Involuntary Isolation and Quarantine:
Issuance of Court Order ........................................ 19
[1.42] 1. Authority ........................................................ 19
[1.43] a. Public Health Law .................................... 19
[1.44] b. New York City Health Code .................... 19
[1.45] c. Habeas Corpus.......................................... 20
[1.46] d. Article 78 Review..................................... 20
[1.47] 2. Standard of Review ........................................ 23
[1.48] 3. Right to Counsel............................................. 24
[1.49] 4. Subsequent Judicial Retention Orders............ 25
[1.50] 5. Costs of Isolation and Quarantine .................. 26
[1.51] J. Provisions Covering Isolation and Quarantine
for Specific Diseases ............................................. 26
[1.52] 1. Tuberculosis ................................................... 26
[1.53] 2. Venereal [Sexually Transmissible]
Diseases.......................................................... 27
[1.54] 3. Typhoid .......................................................... 27
[1.55] 4. Diphtheria....................................................... 27
[1.56] V. Mandatory Examination and Treatment...................... 28
[1.57] A. Authority ............................................................... 28
[1.58] 1. Examination ................................................... 28
[1.59] 2. Treatment ....................................................... 28
[1.60] B. Constitutional Restraints: Examinations ............... 29
[1.61] C. Constitutional Restraints: Treatment..................... 31
[1.62] VI. Inspections and Seizures of Property .......................... 33
[1.63] A. Authority ............................................................... 33
[1.64] 1. Public Health Law
[Communicable Disease] ............................... 33
[1.65] 2. State Sanitary Code
[Communicable Disease] ............................... 34
[1.66] 3. New York City [Communicable Disease]...... 34
[1.67] 4. Public Health Law [Nuisance] ....................... 34
[1.68] 5. New York City [Nuisance]............................. 35
[1.69] 6. Eminent Domain; Public Health Law ............ 36
[1.70] B. Constitutional Restraints ....................................... 38
[1.71] 1. Fourth Amendment: Searches and Seizures... 38
x

[1.72] 2. Fourteenth Amendment: Procedural
Due Process.................................................... 40
[1.73] 3. Fifth Amendment; State Constitution,
Article I, Section 7(a): Just Compensation
for Seized Property........................................ 40
[1.74] VII. Control of Domestic Animals with Diseases
Affecting Humans ....................................................... 43
[1.75] A. Agriculture and Markets Law [AML]................... 43
[1.76] 1. Searches and Seizures .................................... 43
[1.77] 2. Vaccination .................................................... 44
[1.78] 3. Quarantine...................................................... 44
[1.79] 4. Destruction of Animals Exposed to
Disease ........................................................... 44
[1.80] B. New York City Health Code................................. 45
[1.81] 1. Reports ........................................................... 45
[1.82] 2. Investigation................................................... 45
[1.83] 3. Seizure and Isolation ...................................... 45
[1.84] 4. Destruction ..................................................... 45
[1.85] VIII.Emergency Responses to Disasters............................. 46
[1.86] A. Authority ............................................................... 46
[1.87] 1. Executive Law [Exec. Law]........................... 46
[1.88] a. Role of Localities ..................................... 46
[1.89] (i) Local Disaster Emergency Plans ........ 46
[1.90] (ii) Local Responses to Disasters.............. 47
[1.91] (iii)Local Use of Disaster Emergency
Response Personnel ............................ 47
[1.92] (iv)Local States of Emergency and
Suspension of Local Laws .................. 48
[1.93] b. Role of the State ....................................... 49
[1.94] (i) State Disaster Preparedness Plans....... 49
[1.95] (ii) State Declaration of Disaster
Emergency .......................................... 49
[1.96] (iii)Suspension of Laws............................ 50
[1.97] 2. Additional Statutory Authority for
New York City ............................................... 50
[1.98] 3. State Defense Emergency Act [SDEA].......... 51
[1.99] a. Civil Defense Plans .................................. 51
[1.100] b. Response to an “Attack”........................... 52
[1.101] c. Allocation of Resources in Disasters........ 54
[1.102] C. Statutory Immunity From Liability....................... 56
[1.103] 1. State Defense Emergency Act........................ 56
[1.104] 2. Executive Law................................................ 56
xi

[1.105] 3. Federal Public Readiness and Emergency
Preparedness Act............................................ 58
[1.106] 4. Federal Volunteer Protection Act................... 58
[1.107] IX. Confidentiality of Patient Records .............................. 60
[1.108] A. New York Authority.............................................. 60
[1.109] 1. Patient Records Maintained by Health
Care Providers................................................ 60
[1.110] 2. Patient Information Contained in Records
of Public Agencies ......................................... 60
[1.111] B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act of 1996............................................................ 63
[1.112] 1. Application to Public Health Officials........... 63
[1.113] 2. Application to Court Records......................... 64
[1.114] C. Constitutional Right of Privacy............................. 64
[1.115] X. Operation of Courts Amid Public Health Threats....... 65
[1.116] A. Emergency Relocation of Court Terms................. 65
[1.117] 1. Authority to Relocate ..................................... 65
[1.118] 2. Applicable Law in Relocated Courts ............. 66
[1.119] 3. Cost................................................................. 66
[1.120] B. Case Management in Emergencies ....................... 67
[1.121] 1. Authority of Court Administrators................. 67
[1.122] 2. Authority of Judge.......................................... 67
[1.123] 3. Authority of Governor.................................... 68
[1.124] C. Remote Appearances............................................. 70
[1.125] 1. Legislative Authorization............................... 70
[1.126] 2. Authority of Judge.......................................... 70
[1.127] D. Protection of Court Personnel ............................... 72
[1.128] XI. Conclusion................................................................... 73
Table of Authorities............................................................. 75
Committee Member Biographies......................................... 87
xii

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.0
[1.0] I. INTRODUCTION
Recent outbreaks of potentially deadly communicable diseases, as well
as a growing awareness of society’s vulnerability to deliberate threats to
public health, have required that greater attention be paid to the legal
issues governing the handling of public health disaster emergencies.
Many of the statutes governing responses to public health emergencies
have not been revised for decades, and the application of those statutes to
a contemporary world has become more complicated. This Legal Manual
is an effort to assist judges, lawyers, and public health officials and practitioners
in sorting through the myriad statutes and rules governing public
health, and in applying the overriding constitutional principles that balance
individual rights with societal health requirements.
The Manual addresses the laws governing control of the spread of
communicable diseases and the laws governing abatement of nuisances,
such as radiological and chemical contamination, that may cause public
health emergencies. It does not specifically address statutes governing air
and water pollution, but the principles discussed can be readily applied to
public health emergencies from those sources as well.
Because the statutes and rules governing responses to public health
emergencies contain gaps, and because the application of these statutes is
fraught with constitutional issues, the Manual contains “commentary”
sections that discuss how the existing law may be applied to these public
health issues. These commentaries, as well as any constitutional analysis
preceding the commentaries, are solely the views of the authors and are
intended to be helpful, not definitive. Judges, of course, ultimately make
their own decisions of how the law should apply.
One of the anomalies of the New York Public Health Law is that many
of its provisions governing control of contagious diseases and nuisances
do not apply to New York City. Consequently, where appropriate, the
Manual contains separate references to the provisions of the New York
City Health Code, New York City Charter and New York City Administrative
Code that address these areas. The New York City provisions are
almost always consistent with the Public Health Law provisions.
1

§ 1.1 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.1] II. APPLICABLE LAW
[1.2] A. New York Public Health Law
Article 21 of the New York Public Health Law [PHL], supplemented
by Articles 22 and 23 addressing specific diseases, governs the control of
communicable diseases within the state. Article 13 of the PHL governs
the handling of nuisances that affect the public health. The PHL also sets
forth the roles of the officials who exercise the authority under both Articles.
With very limited exceptions (PHL §§ 2130 et seq. [HIV/AIDS
reporting]; 2164 [immunizations]), the provisions of these Articles do not
apply to New York City (see C, below).
[1.3] B. State Sanitary Code
The State Sanitary Code is part of the rules of the New York State
Department of Health and is contained in Volume 10 of the New York
Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations [NYCRR]. The Sanitary
Code is a set of rules established by the state Public Health and Health
Planning Council for general application throughout the state relating to
the preservation and improvement of public health, including the control
of communicable diseases. See PHL §§ 220 [membership of Council];
225(1), (4), and (5)(e), (g)-(k) [power to establish Sanitary Code, including
power to designate communicable diseases dangerous to the public
health and to promulgate certain control measures]. All provisions of the
State Sanitary Code must be approved by the State Commissioner of
Health. PHL § 225(4). The Code applies statewide, including New York
City, and supersedes all inconsistent local ordinances, although localities
may enact sanitary regulations not inconsistent with the Code. PHL
§ 228(1) and (2). Provisions of the State Sanitary Code have the force and
effect of law. PHL § 229.
[1.4] C. Laws of the City of New York
The provisions of the Public Health Law governing nuisances (Article
13) and communicable diseases (Article 21) for the most part do not apply
to New York City. PHL §§ 1309, 2110, 2125, 2146, 2153. Instead, the authority
to regulate both is contained in various sources of New York City
law. Notably, section 556 of the New York City Charter provides the New
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NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.5
York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene with the authority to
“regulate all matters affecting health in the city of New York and to perform
all those functions and operations performed by the city that relate to
the people of the city.” (The New York City Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene will be referred to throughout this Manual as the “City
Department of Health,” and the Commissioner of that Department will be
referred to as the “City Commissioner of Health.”) Section 556(c) of the
Charter authorizes the Department to supervise the reporting and control
of communicable diseases and conditions hazardous to life and health, as
well as to exercise control over and supervise the abatement of nuisances
affecting or likely to affect the public health. In accordance with sections
558(b) and (c) of the Charter, the New York City Board of Health may
promulgate and amend the City Health Code. The City Board of Health
has promulgated Articles 3 and 11 of the Health Code, contained in Title
24 of the Rules of the City of New York [RCNY], to address the control
of, respectively, nuisances and communicable diseases within New York
City.
[1.5] D. Local Ordinances
Enforcement of the communicable disease and nuisance provisions of
the Public Health Law and the State Sanitary Code is primarily the role of
local health officers. Their actions are governed by local ordinances to the
extent that the Public Health Law and Sanitary Code do not apply. Many
less-populated counties are served by a district or regional office of the
State Department of Health, whose role is limited to enforcement of the
Sanitary Code and other environmental health regulations. See, e.g., 10
NYCRR Parts 70-75. In such areas, the Department rules governing procedures
for investigation and enforcement of public health laws by state
officers apply. See 10 NYCRR Part 76.
Commentary
Enforcement of the provisions of the Public Health Law and State
Sanitary Code governing threats to public health is primarily
addressed at the local level. The provisions of the Public Health Law
leave to local government how local enforcement should be handled,
especially with respect to the administrative process for regulating
3

§ 1.6 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
enforcement. The result is a multiplicity of enforcement procedures
among the localities that are contained in local ordinances. For the
most part, the provisions of the Public Health Law governing contagious
disease, and many of the provisions governing nuisances, do
not apply to New York City; New York City enforcement procedures
are codified in the City Health Code in Title 24 of the Rules of the
City of New York.
[1.6] III. JURISDICTION OVER PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES
[1.7] A. Local Health Officers
[1.8] 1. Identity
A “local health officer” can be (1) the commissioner of health of a
county or a city having a population of 50,000 or more and having an
established health department; (2) a public health director (a person who
administers and manages the public health programs within a county);
(3) a county health director appointed pursuant to PHL § 356 in counties
having a population of less than 150,000, but no charter or optional or
alternative form of government; and (4) the officer of a city having a population
of less than 50,000, a town, a village or a consolidated health district
who administers and manages public health programs within such
jurisdiction. See 10 NYCRR § 11.1. Local boards of health may consist of
the boards of health of a county or a part-county health district, or the
board of trustees of a village or the town board, depending upon how local
legislators address this structure. See PHL §§ 302, 308, 340, 356. See also
10 NYCRR § 2.2(e) [Sanitary Code definition of “local health authority”—authority
of a county, part-county, city, town, village, consolidated
health district . . .”]. But see Commentary, below. • New York City: The
provisions of Article 3 of the Public Health Law governing local health
officers for the most part do not apply to New York City. PHL § 312. The
“local health officer” in New York City is the City Commissioner of
Health. New York City Charter § 551.
[1.9] 2. Responsibilities
Local health officers have the statutory authority to “enforce” the
provisions of the Public Health Law and the State Sanitary Code. PHL
4

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.10
§ 324(1)(e). They are required to “immediately investigate” any outbreaks
of contagious diseases, 10 NYCRR § 2.16(a), and to make an “immediate
and thorough” investigation of “a nuisance which may affect health.” 10
NYCRR § 8.1. Parallel authority of the New York City Health
Commissioner with respect to nuisances and diseases is contained,
respectively, in Articles 3 and 11 of the New York City Health Code
[24 RCNY]. The initial implementation of all the provisions of law
relating to isolation, quarantine, examinations, treatment, and searches
and seizures is the responsibility of the local health officer. See Grossman
v. Baumgartner, 17 N.Y.2d 345 (1966) [“the main business of safeguarding
the public health has always of necessity been done by local
boards or officers through sanitary by-laws or ordinances which have
been accorded the force of law”].
[1.10] B. State Commissioner of Health
The State Commissioner of Health exercises general supervision over
local health officers. PHL § 206(1)(b) [“general supervision over the work
of all local boards of health and health officers, unless otherwise provided
by law”]. The State Commissioner (a) monitors the control of contagious
diseases by the local health officers through the requirement that all such
diseases be reported by the local health officers to the State Commissioner,
10 NYCRR § 2.16(a); PHL § 2103; (b) monitors control of public
nuisances through reports filed with the State Commissioner of those nuisances
that have been reported by health officers but that are not being
addressed, 10 NYCRR § 8.4; and (c) retains the reserved power to intervene
directly in a health crisis to enforce the Public Health Law and State
Sanitary Code. PHL § 206(1)(f) [State Commissioner shall “enforce” the
PHL and Sanitary Code]; PHL § 16 [State Commissioner may issue a
public health order where a condition “constitutes danger to the health of
the people”]. See also PHL §§ 1301 [when required by the Governor, the
State Commissioner “shall make an examination concerning nuisances or
questions affecting the security of life and health in any locality”]; 1302
[the board of health of any health district “may appoint one of its members
to act with and assist the commissioner during the investigation or
examination of any nuisance”].
5

§ 1.11 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.11] C. Federal Government
The federal government generally leaves to the states regulation of
public health issues through the exercise of the police powers of the individual
states. It retains residual authority under the Commerce Clause of
the United States Constitution to enact laws to control the spread of communicable
diseases between states. See 42 U.S.C. § 264 [the federal government
controls movement of persons into the United States to prevent
the spread of communicable diseases and may control persons “moving
between states” for that purpose]. The federal Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention can take measures to prevent the spread of disease
between states if local efforts are “insufficient.” 42 CFR § 70.2. See also
42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq. (the Stafford Act) [Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) can implement health and safety measures after a
federal declaration of emergency]. The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) regulates drug-based treatments and the circumstances of their use,
and federal legislation (see VIII(C)(3), infra) regulates medical records
and provides immunity with regard to vaccinations and drugs used in
response to denominated public health emergencies.
Commentary
Control of public health is primarily handled on a local level. Ideally,
local health departments and officers are staffed and equipped
to be the first line of defense for control of disease outbreaks and
other public health emergencies. The State Commissioner of Health
is kept informed by local health authorities of outbreaks of communicable
diseases and other public health concerns, but exercises primarily
a monitoring and resource role, providing technical
assistance, epidemiologic analysis, laboratory testing and often onsite
assistance in dealing with disease outbreaks. The State Commissioner
retains the reserved power to step in to exercise an active role
where local intervention is inadequate. Although the Public Health
Law and Sanitary Code provide (outside of New York City) for the
establishing of local health officers below the county level, in actuality
no such positions are operative. State health officials rely exclusively
on county health officers as their link to city, town and village
governments.
6

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.12
[1.12] IV. ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
[1.13] A. Definitions
[1.14] 1. State Sanitary Code
[1.15] a. Isolation
10 NYCRR § 2.25(d) [“separation from other persons, in such places,
under such conditions, and for such time, as will prevent transmission of
the infectious agent, of persons known to be ill or suspected of being
infected”].
[1.16] b. Quarantine
Quarantine of premises: 10 NYCRR § 2.25(e) [(1) “prohibition of
entrance into or exit from the premises, as designated by the health
officer, where a case of communicable disease exists of any person other
than medical attendants and such others as may be authorized by the
health officer; (2) prohibition, without permission and instruction from
the health officer, of the removal from such premises of any article liable
to contamination with infective material through contact with the patient
or with his secretions or excretions, unless such article has been disinfected”].
Personal quarantine: 10 NYCRR § 2.25(f) [“restricting household
contacts and/or incidental contacts to premises designated by the
health officer”].
[1.17] 2. New York City Health Code
[1.18] a. Isolation
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.01(o) [“the physical separation of persons
who have a contagious disease or are suspected of having a contagious
disease from other persons who do not have such contagious
disease”].
[1.19] b. Quarantine
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.01(q) [“the physical confinement, separation,
detention, or restriction of activities, including entry or exit to or
from premises or other places, of individuals who have been or are suspected
of having been exposed to a contagious disease or possibly conta-
7

§ 1.20 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
gious disease, from other persons who have not been exposed to that
contagious disease”].
Commentary
The State Sanitary Code has statewide application, but localities
may enact rules not inconsistent with the Code. PHL § 228(1) and
(2). The City of New York has streamlined in its local rules the longstanding
definitions of “isolation” and “quarantine” of the Code.
[1.20] B. Communicable Diseases Covered
10 NYCRR § 2.1(a) lists individually the communicable diseases that
are reportable statewide and subject to the provisions of law implementing
isolation and quarantine. There are currently more than 60 contagious
diseases on the list, including tuberculosis, influenza (laboratory-confirmed),
hepatitis, meningitis, and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).
The laws applicable to isolation and quarantine do not apply
unless a disease is listed in section 2.1(a) as a communicable disease.
PHL § 2100(1). Newly emergent communicable diseases may be added to
the list by the State Commissioner of Health pending confirmation by the
Public Health and Health Planning Council. 10 NYCRR § 2.1(a). • New
York City: Section 11.03 of the City Health Code [24 RCNY] specifies
diseases and conditions of public health interest that must be reported in
New York City, and includes the diseases specified in 10 NYCRR § 2.1(a)
as well as additional diseases and conditions. Isolation and quarantine are
not limited to just the listed diseases; the City Health Code authorizes “removal
or detention” for any contagious disease that “may pose an imminent
and significant threat to the public health.” §§ 11.17(a); 11.23(a). It
also provides for other orders needed to prevent the spread of “contagious
diseases or other illnesses that may pose a threat to the public health,” including
isolation or quarantine of a person at home or at a premises of
such person’s choice, and authorizes the decontamination of persons who
have been contaminated with dangerous amounts of radioactive materials
or toxic chemicals, and who may present a danger to others. § 11.23(k).
8

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.21
Commentary
The world of communicable disease health threats is ever-changing.
Many devastating communicable diseases that were scourges of the
late 19th and early 20th centuries (such as diphtheria, typhoid, and
polio) are no longer prevalent in the United States, but there are new
emerging health threats in the 21st century that include SARS and
novel strains of influenza. Descriptions of the causation, symptoms
and treatment of many of these communicable diseases are available
at http://www.nyhealth.gov/diseases/ and http://www.cdc.gov/
DiseasesConditions/. Note that HIV/AIDS is treated as neither a
communicable nor a sexually transmitted disease and is subject to
separate provisions of the PHL.
[1.21] C. Identification and Reporting of Communicable
Diseases
[1.22] 1. Physician
A physician must submit specimens for laboratory examination in
cases of suspected communicable diseases listed in 10 NYCRR § 2.1(a).
10 NYCRR § 2.5. A physician must report to the local health officer every
person with a suspected or confirmed case of a communicable disease
within 24 hours after first seeing the case. 10 NYCRR § 2.10. See PHL
§ 2101(1) [duty to make such report “immediately”]. Where no physician
is in attendance, any non-physician “having knowledge of an individual
affected with any disease presumably communicable” must immediately
report the affected person to a local health officer. 10 NYCRR § 2.12. •
New York City: Suspected and confirmed cases or carriers of certain of the
diseases and conditions identified in section 11.03(a) of the City Health
Code [24 RCNY] must be reported immediately to the City Department
of Health, § 11.03(b)(1), while the remainder must be reported within 24
hours. § 11.03(b)(2). The duty to report within 24 hours also includes
“any unusual manifestation of a disease or condition of public health
interest in an individual” or “an . . . emerging disease or a syndrome of
uncertain etiology that could possibly be communicable.” § 11.03(c).
9

§ 1.23 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.23] 2. Laboratory
A laboratory must “immediately” report evidence of a communicable
disease to the local health official. PHL § 2102(1). See 10 NYCRR §§ 55-
2.13(d)(5) [laboratory findings of “critical agent” to be reported within 24
hours or, for an autonomous detection system, within one hour]; 55-2.14
[requirements for laboratories using autonomous detection systems (systems
that continuously or periodically sample the environment and trigger
an alert when a critical agent is detected)]. • New York City: Health Code
[24 RCNY] §§ 11.03(c), 11.05(a) [general reporting requirements]; Article
13 [specific requirements and procedures for reporting by laboratories].
[1.24] 3. Local Health Officer
A local health officer, upon receiving a report of a communicable
disease, must report that affected individual to the State Commissioner of
Health and immediately investigate the circumstances and causes,
including submission of specimens to laboratories. 10 NYCRR §§ 2.6(a)
and (b); 2.16(a). As a requirement in the State Sanitary Code, this
requirement applies to New York City as well. See also Health Code [24
RCNY] § 11.03(e).
Commentary
The identification and reporting of communicable diseases is a collaborative
effort among physicians, laboratories, hospitals and local
health officers. The key to their collaboration is the timely reporting
of the disease to the local health officer to enable that health officer
to determine whether to move forward with other steps in the process,
such as isolation and quarantine.
[1.25] D. Authority to Isolate
[1.26] 1. Physician
10 NYCRR § 2.27 [“It shall be the duty of the attending physician
immediately upon discovering a case of highly communicable disease . . .
to cause the patient to be isolated, pending official action by the health
officer.”]. • New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.17(a) [duty of
10

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.27
medical facility to isolate person having or suspected of having a contagious
disease].
[1.27] 2. Local Health Officer
10 NYCRR § 2.29 [“Whenever a case of a highly communicable
disease . . . comes to the attention of the [local] health officer he
shall isolate such patients as in his judgment he deems necessary.”]; PHL
§ 2100(2)(a) [local health officer may “provide for care and isolation of
cases of communicable disease in a hospital or elsewhere when necessary
for protection of the public health”]. • New York City: Health Code [24
RCNY] §§ 11.17(b), (c) and (d) [authority of City Department of Health
to order infected person who is not hospitalized to remain in isolation “at
home or other residence of his or her choosing” or to direct isolation in
other facility until transported to appropriate health care facility]; 11.23(a)
[City Health Commissioner may order “removal and/or detention” of
individual who “may pose an imminent and significant threat to the public
health resulting in severe morbidity or high mortality”].
Commentary
The duty to isolate an infected person starts with the treating physician.
The local health officer is typically brought into play through
the reporting obligations of the physician, laboratory and hospital.
[1.28] E. Authority to Quarantine
PHL §§ 2100(1) [a health officer shall guard against communicable
diseases “by the exercise of proper and vigilant medical inspection and
control of all persons and things infected with or exposed to such diseases”];
2100(2)(b) [a health officer may “prohibit and prevent all intercourse
and communication with or use of infected premises, places and
things”]. • New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] §§ 11.17(d) [a “contact”
who is not hospitalized may be ordered by the City Department of
Health to remain in “quarantine” at home or elsewhere]; 11.23(a) [City
Commissioner of Health may order “detention” of a “contact” in an
“appropriate facility or premises”]. See § 11.01(g) [“‘Contact’ means an
individual who has been identified as having been exposed, or potentially
exposed, to a contagious or possibly contagious disease through such
close, prolonged or repeated association with another individual or animal
11

§ 1.29 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
that, in the opinion of the Department, there is a risk of such individual
contracting the contagious disease.”].
Commentary
In contrast to the New York City Health Code, the word “quarantine”
is not used in Article 21 of the Public Health Law, and the
authority to quarantine is derived from the authority of the local
health officer to “control” persons “exposed to” the disease. While
“quarantine” is given an extensive definition in the State Sanitary
Code, 10 NYCRR § 2.25(e) and (f), it is used in that Code only with
respect to specific diseases. See 10 NYCRR § 2.30 (diphtheria).
[1.29] F. Voluntary Isolation and Quarantine
In most cases, the preferred method of implementing isolation or quarantine
is to convince the infected or exposed individuals to voluntarily
agree to such restrictions. Nothing in the Public Health Law, State Sanitary
Code or New York City Health Code specifically addresses voluntary
compliance, but the State Department of Health provides guidance stating
that localities should have in place procedures for voluntary compliance
in the first instance. These may take the form of written and oral notice to
the person of the nature of the disease and the consequences of failing to
remain isolated, as well as (optimally) daily visits or phone calls by the
local health officer to the place of confinement. See PHL § 2100(1) [obligation
of local health officer to exercise “proper and vigilant medical
inspection and control”]. Some localities have the patients sign written
agreements to voluntarily remain isolated.
Commentary
Voluntary isolation and quarantine make up a common-sense
approach to controlling communicable diseases and allow affected
persons to stay in places of their own choosing. It avoids the burden
and expense of compelling detention. The opportunity for voluntary
compliance may also be constitutionally required as a least restrictive
alternative to enforcing the requirements of isolation and quarantine.
See G(1), below.
12

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.30
[1.30] G. Involuntary Isolation and Quarantine:
Constitutional Standards
[1.31] 1. Substantive Due Process
Involuntary confinement, either by isolation or quarantine, directly
affects a fundamental right—the right to liberty—and the requirements
of substantive due process compel the locality to demonstrate that it has a
“substantial government interest” in that confinement. See Joyner v.
Dumpson, 712 F.2d 770 (2d Cir. 1983). Cf. Beatie v. City of New York, 123
F.3d 707 (2d Cir. 1997) [using “rational relationship” test for substantive
due process challenge not involving a fundamental right]. In sustaining
the “substantial government interest” in the involuntary confinement of an
individual, the government must show (1) that the specific individual, in
fact, poses a danger to society, see O’Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563,
575 (1975), and (2) that the same basic purpose—sustaining the “substantial
government interest” cannot be achieved by less drastic means, i.e.,
the “least restrictive alternative.” Shelton v. Tucker, 364 U.S. 479, 488
(1960); City of New York v. Doe, 205 A.D.2d 469 (1st Dep’t 1994)
[upholding involuntary isolation of TB patient]; City of New York v. Antoinette
R., 165 Misc. 2d 1014 (Sup. Ct., Queens Co., 1995) [same]; Best v.
St. Vincent’s Hospital, 2003 WL 21518829 (S.D.N.Y. 2003), report and
recommendation adopted, 2003 WL 21767656 (S.D.N.Y. 2003), aff’d in
part, vacated in part, dismissed in part sub nom. Best v. Bellevue Hospital,
2004 WL 2166316, 115 Fed. Appx. 459 (2d Cir. 2004) [upholding
City Health Code procedures for involuntary isolation of TB patients and
upholding isolation of plaintiff].
[1.32] 2. Procedural Due Process
Deprivation of a liberty interest also requires procedural due process.
Zinermon v. Burch, 494 U.S. 113, 127 (1990). In cases challenging involuntary
civil commitment, the courts have followed the standards of the
seminal case of Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 335 (1976), in determining
the adequacy of the commitment and retention process—requiring
a weighing of the risk of erroneous deprivation of a person’s liberty
(including the possible value of additional safeguards) against the government’s
interest in the confinement (which can include consideration of fiscal
and administrative burdens). See Project Release v. Prevost, 722 F.2d
960, 975-76 (2d Cir. 1983). In civil commitment cases, procedural due
13

§ 1.32 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
process would require a right to notice, a right to be represented by counsel,
a right to a hearing, and judicial review. See Vitek v. Jones, 445 U.S.
480, 494-96 (1980). The holding of the hearing must be within a reasonable
time after detention, but what period of time would be reasonable
depends upon a balance of the rights of the individual and the interests of
society. Where loss of personal liberty is at stake, that time period is short.
See Project Release v. Prevost, supra, 722 F.2d at 974-75 [court upholds
New York’s statutory scheme for involuntary commitment of the dangerous
mentally ill, holding that the availability of a judicial hearing within
five days of demand by the patient and the availability of habeas corpus
relief meet procedural due process standards].
Commentary
The courts have long upheld the use of the police power of public
officers to isolate and quarantine persons infected with or exposed to
infectious diseases. See Crayton v. Larabee, 220 N.Y. 493 (1917)
[quarantine of neighbor of person infected with smallpox]; Gates v.
Prudential Insurance Co., 240 App. Div. 444 (4th Dep’t 1934)
[Commissioner of Health may quarantine typhoid carriers]. (Probably
the most famous case of quarantine in New York was the forcible
quarantine of Mary Mallon, a/k/a “Typhoid Mary,” on an island
in the East River—first from 1907-1910, then again from 1915 until
her death in 1938.) But the exercise of the power to isolate or quarantine
is constrained by due process requirements. Those requirements
for persons subject to confinement have significantly evolved
over the past decades, and they must be read into the current PHL
and Sanitary Code provisions governing communicable diseases,
many of which were drafted in the 1950s and contain little guidance
for addressing due process concerns.
Much of the due process jurisprudence for deprivation of personal
liberty comes from cases adjudicating the legality of civil confinement
of the mentally ill. But in terms of substantive due process,
society may have a more substantial government interest in eliminating
the risk of harm presented by contagion spreading through a
community than the risk of harm presented by the discharge of a single
mentally ill person. The few cases in New York addressing
14

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.33
issues of isolation and quarantine for contagious diseases principally
deal with individual patients who have been noncompliant in following
a prescribed regimen of treatment for diseases like tuberculosis.
Courts will have to examine carefully how the required due process
balance between government needs and personal liberty would be
applied in the broader context of a widespread epidemic requiring
the immediate isolation or quarantine of large numbers of people.
[1.33] H. Involuntary Isolation and Quarantine: Issuance of
Health Order by Local Health Officer
[1.34] 1. Authority
PHL §§ 308(d) [power of local boards of health to make orders, consistent
with the State Sanitary Code, for enforcement of PHL and health regulations];
308(e) [same as to nuisances]; 309 [power to hold administrative
hearings]; 324(1)(e) [power of local health officer to “enforce” the
PHL and the State Sanitary Code]. See PHL §§ 2100(1) [authority of local
health officer to “control” persons infected with or exposed to communicable
diseases]; 2100(2)(a) [authority of local health officer to provide for
the “isolation” of cases of communicable diseases]; 10 NYCRR § 2.29
[same]. • New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] §§ 11.17(a) and (d);
11.23(a) and (k) [authority of City Commissioner of Health to issue orders
relating to contagious diseases, including isolation and quarantine].
[1.35] 2. Standard for Health Order
PHL § 2100(2) [“necessary for protection of the public health”]. • New
York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] §§ 11.23(a) [isolation of case, contact
or carrier in medical facility or other designated location when person
“may pose an imminent and significant threat to the public health resulting
in severe morbidity or high mortality”]; 11.23(k) [other orders when
“necessary or appropriate to prevent dissemination or transmission of
contagious diseases or other illnesses that may pose a threat to the public
health”].
[1.36] 3. Contents of Health Order
There are no provisions in the PHL or Sanitary Code setting forth what
must be contained in a health order. In conformance with the require-
15

§ 1.37 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
ments of procedural due process articulated in case law addressing involuntary
civil commitment (G(2), supra), the State Commissioner of Health
has advised local health authorities that a health order should contain:
1. the reasons for the health order (including why less restrictive
alternatives are not appropriate);
2. the conditions of isolation or quarantine;
3. the right to contact a lawyer;
4. the procedures for administrative review of the order;
5. the right to seek review of the order in court.
• New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] §§ 11.23(g) [health order must
contain purpose, legal authority, basis for order, attempts at less restrictive
alternatives, notice and instructions as to how to request release from
detention, notice of right to counsel, notice of time limits on detention];
11.23(e) [where detention is for a period not exceeding three days, the
detainee, upon request, shall be afforded “an opportunity to be heard”].
[1.37] 4. Duration of Health Order
PHL § 2123(1) [until determination that “such person may be discharged
without danger to the health or life of others”]. • New York City:
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(c) [for orders under § 11.23(a)]; (c)(1)
[case or carrier—until determination that “such person is no longer contagious”];
(c)(3) and (4)(ii) [contact of either confirmed case or suspected
case—until determination that such contact “no longer presents a potential
danger to the health of others”].
[1.38] 5. Enforcement of Health Order
[1.39] a. Civil Enforcement
State: PHL § 12 [State Health Commissioner may bring a civil action
against a person who violates a health order to recover a civil penalty not
to exceed $2000 per violation; the Attorney General may bring an action
for an injunction]; PHL § 206(1)(f) and (4)(c) [State Commissioner may
enforce PHL and Sanitary Code and assess a penalty not exceeding $2000
16

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.40
for any violation of an order]. • Localities: PHL §§ 309(1)(f) [local board
of health may “prescribe and impose penalties for the violation of or failure
to comply with any of its orders or regulations, or any of the regulations
of the state sanitary code, not exceeding one thousand dollars for a
single violation or failure, to be sued for and recovered by it in any court
of competent jurisdiction”]; 309(1)(g) [local boards of health may appoint
hearing officers to make findings of fact and recommendations to the
board]; 324(1)(e) [local health officer shall enforce the PHL and State
Sanitary Code]. • New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] §§ 3.05(a)
[prohibiting violation of any order of City Commissioner of Health, City
Department of Health, or Board of Health]; 3.11(a) [violations subject to
penalty or fine of $200–$2000 per day].
[1.40] b. Criminal Enforcement
PHL § 12-b [person who violates an order of the local health officer is
guilty of a misdemeanor]. See also PHL § 229 [noncompliance with any
provision of the State Sanitary Code is a violation]. • New York City: New
York City Charter § 562 [failure to comply with any order of City Commissioner
of Health or Board of Health is a misdemeanor].
Commentary
The issuance of a health order by the local health officer directing
the confinement of an individual commences an administrative process
for the isolation of infected persons or the quarantine of persons
exposed to infected persons. Unlike the New York City Health
Code, there is no mention of the term “health order” in the PHL or
Sanitary Code; the issuance of the order flows from the authority of
the local health officer to “enforce” the PHL and Code.
There is little guidance in the PHL, the Sanitary Code, or the New
York City Health Code as to how this local administrative process
works. Those provisions of the PHL that address administrative
hearings pertain only to the State Commissioner of Health. See PHL
§§ 12-a [authority of State Commissioner to conduct administrative
hearings]; 16 [authority of State Commissioner to take summary
action before a hearing is held where a condition “constitutes danger
to the health of the people”]. See, in general, State Administrative
17

§ 1.40 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
Procedure Act (SAPA). This authority of the State Commissioner to
enforce the PHL and Sanitary Code is generally considered a
reserved power to be used only in the absence of effective local
enforcement. Localities are free to fashion, and most have fashioned,
their own administrative review and enforcement processes
—often through local health codes. See PHL § 309 [quasi-judicial
powers of local boards of health].
Because health orders are administrative orders, they are subject to
the full process of administrative review of government actions that
localities provide—including evidentiary hearings. However, administrative
orders directing the confinement of individuals against
their will are rarely candidates for the ordinary deliberate administrative
review process. Due process for involuntarily confined persons
requires a right to an evidentiary hearing within a very brief
period of time, see G(2), supra, and it is unlikely that the administrative
review processes of most localities can accommodate this. Using
the available avenues for court hearings in the first instance is
often a more effective means of meeting these due process considerations.
Therefore, to the extent that local health officers determine to
issue health orders for isolation or quarantine, they often are used either
to reinforce voluntary compliance or to serve as an intermediate
enforcement step until a court order can be obtained. And to the extent
that localities provide administrative review of these orders, the
review is generally in the form of a summary review of the order by
the local commissioner. See New York City Health Code § 11.23(e).
Both the State Commissioner and local health officers have the
authority to seek civil penalties for violation of health orders directing
isolation or quarantine. However, where the violation may create
an immediate danger to the public, the remedy of criminal arrest and
prosecution may be called for. See PHL § 12-b; New York City
Charter § 562.
18

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.41
[1.41] I. Involuntary Isolation and Quarantine:
Issuance of Court Order
[1.42] 1. Authority
[1.43] a. Public Health Law
PHL §§ 2120(1) [section applies whenever the infected person is
“unable or unwilling to conduct himself and to live in such a manner as
not to expose members of his family or household or other persons with
whom he may be associated to danger of infection”]; 2120(2) [if the
health officer finds that “a person so afflicted is a menace to others,” the
person shall be brought before a “magistrate”]; 2120(3) [where the magistrate
finds “after due notice and a hearing” that the person “is a source of
danger to others,” the magistrate may “commit the said person to any hospital
or institution”]; 2123 [the person may be discharged from that institution
when that can be done “without danger to the health or life of
others”]. Venue: PHL § 2120(2) [brought before a “magistrate”]; General
Construction Law § 28-b [“a magistrate is a judge of any court of this
state”].
[1.44] b. New York City Health Code
24 RCNY § 11.23(a) [upon determining that a “case, contact or carrier,
or suspected case, contact or carrier” of a contagious disease “may pose
an imminent and significant threat to the public health resulting in severe
morbidity or high mortality, the Commissioner may order the removal
and/or detention of such person or of a group of such persons by issuing a
single order . . . . Such person . . . shall be detained in a medical facility or
other appropriate facility or premises designated by the Commissioner”];
(g)(1)(ii) [the commissioner’s order must set forth “less restrictive alternatives”
that were attempted and not successful or that were considered and
rejected]; (f) [when the person is ordered detained for more than three
business days and requests release, “the Commissioner shall make an
application for a court order” . . . . “detention shall not continue for more
than five (5) business days in the absence of a court order authorizing
detention” [and] . . . . “in no event shall any person be detained for more
than sixty (60) days without a court order authorizing such detention”];
(k) [Commissioner may “seek enforcement of” orders of local health
19

§ 1.45 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
officers necessary “to prevent dissemination or transmission of contagious
diseases or other illnesses that may pose a threat to the public health,”
including orders requiring the person “to remain isolated or quarantined at
home or at a premises of such person’s choice that is acceptable to the
Department and under such conditions and for such period as will prevent
transmission of the contagious disease or other illness”]. Venue: Supreme
Court.
[1.45] c. Habeas Corpus
New York Civil Practice Law & Rules [CPLR] 7002(a) [“A person illegally
imprisoned or otherwise restrained in his liberty within the state”
may petition for a writ of habeas corpus “to inquire into the cause of such
detention and for deliverance.”]; 7009(c) [“The court shall proceed in a
summary manner to hear the evidence produced in support of and against
the detention and to dispose of the proceedings as justice requires.”];
7010(a) [“If the person is illegally detained a final judgment shall be directed
discharging him forthwith.”]. Venue: CPLR 7002(b) [the Supreme
Court in the judicial district where the person is detained; any Supreme
Court justice; a county judge within the county where the person is detained].
[1.46] d. Article 78 Review
CPLR 7803 [a court may review a determination by a “body or officer”
to determine if it was (3) “made in violation of lawful procedure, was
affected by an error of law or was arbitrary and capricious or an abuse of
discretion” or (4) if made after an evidentiary hearing, was “supported by
substantiated evidence”]. Venue: CPLR 7804(b) [Supreme Court within
the judicial district where the determination was made]. See also PHL
§ 2124 [“Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to prohibit
any person committed to any institution pursuant to its provisions from
appealing to any court having jurisdiction, for a review of the evidence on
which commitment was made.”].
20

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.46
Commentary
Requests for judicial orders seeking enforcement or review of involuntary
confinement for communicable diseases can come either at
the request of the local health officer—by seeking a court order pursuant
to PHL § 2120 (or, in New York City, pursuant to Health Code
[24 RCNY] § 11.23(f) [medical or other facility], (k) [home or place
of person’s choice]); or at the request of the confined individual—by
seeking a writ of habeas corpus or by bringing an Article 78 proceeding
requesting review of an administrative order of confinement.
Local health officers will seek a court order where they
believe there will not be voluntary compliance with a health order;
in many jurisdictions they will seek a court order as a matter of
course without ever issuing a health order.
The procedure contained in PHL § 2120 (applicable outside New
York City) for obtaining a court order was enacted over a half-century
ago. It requires a complaint by a local health officer to be
brought before a “magistrate,” which by definition could include any
judge in the State of New York, including justices of town and village
courts that otherwise have no jurisdiction to grant such equitable
relief. The only remedy that it provides is the commitment of the
infected person to a “hospital or institution,” which, even if construed
broadly to include a home health agency or local health
department, still might not cover all confinements at home, which is
a more likely result in the face of an epidemic. And it applies only to
the person who is “afflicted with a communicable disease,” and
therefore does not encompass quarantine of persons who are not
infected but who have been exposed to the disease. A literal reading
of section 2120 would impair the ability of local health officers to
obtain court orders in epidemics directed to the broad needs of the
health of the public, and in many cases would leave health officers to
seek only criminal prosecutions under PHL § 12-b for violation of
health orders.
However, PHL § 2120 is not the only authority for obtaining judicial
enforcement of isolation and quarantine. The power to isolate and
quarantine in a health emergency is not ultimately dependent upon
21

§ 1.46 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
some specific statutory authority to take action to preserve the health
of the community, but may be exercised pursuant to the sovereign’s
common law police power. See Mendez v. Dinkins, 226 A.D.2d 219,
223 (1st Dep’t 1996) [“the government has a paramount interest in
protecting the public from imminent danger”]; Daly v. Port Authority,
7 Misc. 3d 299, 305 (Sup. Ct., New York Co., 2005) [“Salus populi
expresses a common-law principle for the state’s exercise of the
police power (cite omitted). It amounts to a recognition that society
has a right that corresponds to the right of self-preservation in the
individual, and it rests upon necessity because there can be no effective
government without it.”]; In re World Trade Center Disaster Site
Litigation, 456 F. Supp. 2d 520, 550 (S.D.N.Y. 2006), aff’d in part
and dismissed in part, 521 F.3d 169 (2d Cir. 2008) [“[W]hen an
emergent disaster threatens society as a whole, the doctrine of salus
populi . . . requires the government to act . . . . Salus populi . . .
encourage[s] immediate action to preserve society.”]. See also In re
Cheesebrough, 78 N.Y. 232, 236 (1879) [“The police power possessed
by the State, and conferred by it upon municipal corporations,
is very broad and far reaching . . . . In cases of actual necessity
. . . the rights of private property must be made subservient to the
public welfare; and it is the imminent danger and the actual necessity
which furnish the justification.”].
Since state and local health officers are authorized by law to exercise
the power to protect the public health from the spread of communicable
diseases, see PHL §§ 206(1)(f) [State Commissioner of
Health]; 324(1)(e) [local health officers], they are the officers who
may exercise the police power to enforce that mandate independent
of the procedures set forth in PHL § 2120. The New York Supreme
Court, with its general original jurisdiction in law and equity, can
hear actions brought by local health officers to enforce this exercise
of the police power. See State Const., Art. VI, § 7(a). Nor should the
gaps in section 2120 be construed as limiting the type of judicial
proceedings that local health officers can bring. See City of Utica v.
New York State Health Department, 96 A.D.2d 719 (4th Dep’t 1983)
[laws enacted to protect the public health are to be liberally construed];
Putnam Lake Community v. Deputy Commissioner, 90
A.D.2d 850 (2d Dep’t 1982) [same].
22

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.47
Most local health officers select the Supreme Court as the “magistrate”
to hear these proceedings. The Supreme Court also may serve
as a proper forum for a consolidation of the hearing of multiple civil
actions and proceedings that may be brought relating to the confinement
of an individual under the Public Health Law, and might possibly
be able to simultaneously hear criminal misdemeanor enforcement
proceedings as well. People v. Darling, 50 A.D.2d 1038 (3d
Dep’t 1975) [Supreme Court has constitutional authority to try misdemeanors].
See also People v. Correa, 15 N.Y.3d 213, 229 (2010)
[depriving the Supreme Court of the power to try misdemeanors
would create “a significant constitutional issue”].
By contrast, the more contemporary 24 RCNY § 11.23, applicable
in the City of New York, sets forth a straightforward judicial process
applicable to both isolation of infected persons and quarantine of
contacts of infected persons, with no restriction on where the person
is detained. In recognition of due process requirements, section
11.23 directs that the Commissioner forthwith seek a court order so
that the detention not continue beyond five business days without a
judicial review and confirmation.
[1.47] 2. Standard of Review
City of New York v. Doe, 205 A.D.2d 469 (1st Dep’t 1994) [use standard
of “clear and convincing evidence” for review of legality of confinement
in hospital of person infected with tuberculosis]; Bradley v. Crowell,
181 Misc. 2d 529 (Sup. Ct., Suffolk Co., 1999) [same—proceeding under
PHL § 2120]; City of New York v. Antoinette R., 165 Misc. 2d 1014 (Sup.
Ct., Queens Co., 1995) [same]; Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(f) [New
York City Commissioner of Health must prove necessity for detention “by
clear and convincing evidence”]. See Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418
(1979) [the standard of proof in a state involuntary civil commitment proceeding
is clear and convincing evidence]; Matter of Storar, 52 N.Y.2d
363, 379 (1981) [the standard of clear and convincing evidence is required
to be used where “important personal interests are at stake”].
23

§ 1.48 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
Commentary
The constitutionally required standard of “clear and convincing evidence”
for judicial review colors the review process where the court
obtains jurisdiction over the validity of the confinement through proceedings
brought by the confined individual—by Article 78 proceeding
or by habeas corpus. Article 78 proceedings typically look
to see whether administrative determinations are “arbitrary and
capricious,” CPLR 7803(3), with a “rational basis” test being
applied to rebut that allegation. See Matter of Pell v. Board of Education,
34 N.Y.2d 222, 230-31 (1974). Or, in the unlikely event that a
full evidentiary hearing was held, whether the determination was
supported by “substantial evidence.” CPLR 7803(4). Neither would
be a constitutionally permissible standard where the Article 78 proceeding
challenges a determination by a local health officer for isolation
or quarantine. It is not clear whether the oblique language in
PHL § 2124 [“Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to
prohibit [an institutionalized person] from ‘appealing’ for a ‘review
of the evidence on which commitment was made.’”] creates a review
process independent of Article 78 review, but if used as such it
would require the “clear and convincing evidence” standard as well.
Similarly, to the extent that a court examines the legality of confinement
under habeas corpus review, the “clear and convincing evidence”
standard must apply.
[1.48] 3. Right to Counsel
PHL § 2120 is silent on the appointment of counsel to represent the
confined individual where a judicial order of confinement is sought. The
courts have ruled that a right to counsel exists where an individual’s physical
liberty is threatened by a state’s action, Project Release v. Prevost,
722 F.2d 960, 976 (2d Cir. 1983), and the State Commissioner of Health
has issued guidance to localities that, upon the issuance of a health order,
they should advise confined individuals of their right to counsel. • New
York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(g)(2)(iii) [notice to confined
persons of the Commissioner’s intent to seek a judicial order of confinement
must advise the persons of “the right to request that legal counsel be
provided, [and] that upon such request counsel shall be provided if and to
the extent possible under the circumstances”].
24

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.49
Commentary
A right to counsel implies that counsel must be provided if the person
cannot afford counsel. However, as the City Health Code recognizes,
the timing and mechanics of the providing of such counsel
may be dependent on the circumstances of the health crisis. See
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(g)(1)(v) and (2)(iii). The responsibility
of a public entity to pay for assigned counsel for indigents is
governed by statute. See County Law, Article 18-B [county to pay in
criminal cases]; Judiciary Law § 35 [state to pay in enumerated civil
cases]. Neither Article 18-B nor section 35 applies here. In the
absence of a statute setting forth which entity should pay for counsel
provided to isolated or quarantined persons who are indigent, the
locality would have to work out an arrangement with counsel.
[1.49] 4. Subsequent Judicial Retention Orders
There are no provisions in the PHL that require subsequent judicial
review of the need for confinement. Nevertheless, some local plans provide
for the local health officer to periodically seek judicial review of the
initial PHL § 2120 judicial order, to ensure that there still is a justifiable
basis for continued confinement. • New York City: Health Code [24
RCNY] § 11.23(f) [The Commissioner of Health must seek further court
review of the confinement every 90 days].
Commentary
The same procedural due process requirements that apply to the deprivation
of liberty caused by initial confinement of an infected person
would apply to the continued confinement of that person. At
some point, the confined individual would have a constitutional right
to a hearing on the necessity for the continuation of the confinement.
See Project Release v. Prevost, supra, 722 F.2d at 965 [upholding
civil commitment statute that provided, inter alia, for judicial review
every 60 days]. As with all procedural due process evaluations, the
actual time limit for subsequent re-examination of the need for confinement
would depend on the factual basis for the confinement and
the balance between the individual and governmental interests at
stake.
25

§ 1.50 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.50] 5. Costs of Isolation and Quarantine
PHL §§ 2100(2)(a) [“Every local board of health and every health
officer may: (a) provide for care and isolation of cases of communicable
disease in a hospital or elsewhere when necessary for protection of the
public health.”]; 2120(4) [“In making such commitment [to a hospital or
institution] the magistrate shall make such order for payment for the care
and maintenance of the person committed as he may deem proper.”].
• New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(d)(1) [“A person who
is detained . . . shall, as is appropriate to the circumstances: (1) have his or
her medical condition and needs assessed and addressed on a regular
basis.”].
Commentary
The implementation of isolation and quarantine includes responsibility
for the “care” [PHL § 2100(2)(a)] and the “needs” [Health
Code § 11.23(d)(1)] of the persons so detained. This includes ensuring
that these persons have access to food, shelter and medical assistance
as appropriate to the circumstances. See Health Code [24
RCNY] § 11.23(d). Since these responsibilities are placed by law
with the localities, where there are no other sources of payment such
as medical insurance, the costs of that implementation, in the first
instance, most likely would be borne by the locality that is effectuating
the orders of isolation and quarantine. See 6 Op. State Compt.
122 (1950); 1933 Op. Atty. Gen. 449. PHL § 2120(4) authorizes a
judge to make such order for payment for care and maintenance “as
he may deem proper,” so that the statute could be applied not only to
the scope of services to be provided, but also to designating a source
of such payment other than the health officer’s locality in special circumstances.
[1.51] J. Provisions Covering Isolation and Quarantine
for Specific Diseases
[1.52] 1. Tuberculosis
10 NYCRR § 2.7(a) and (b) [responsibility of local health officer to
examine and monitor TB patients; duty of physician to instruct TB patient
and members of household about avoiding personal contact with others].
26

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.53
• New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.21 [detailed provisions
within New York City for the reporting, examination, exclusion, removal
and detention of persons with TB]. Cf. § 11.23 [same as to all other communicable
diseases].
[1.53] 2. Venereal [Sexually Transmissible] Diseases
PHL §§ 2300 [authority of local health officer to cause a medical
examination to be made and to take specimens and to isolate a person who
refuses to submit to such exam]; 2301 [authority to apply to court
(Supreme, County, City) to get court order directing person to submit to
examination and the taking of specimens or to comply with the restrictions
of isolation]; 2302 [authority to isolate and treat any person found to
have such disease]. Note that HIV/AIDS is not treated as a sexually transmissible
disease and is subject to separate provisions of the PHL.
[1.54] 3. Typhoid
10 NYCRR §§ 2.28 [authority of local health officer to isolate typhoid
(and measles) cases]; 2.28(b), 2.40, 2.42, 2.43 [control of typhoid carriers].
• New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.19 [restrictions on
typhoid carriers; medical tests to determine non-contagion].
[1.55] 4. Diphtheria
10 NYCRR § 2.30 [authorization of local health officer to isolate diphtheria
patients and to quarantine members of household].
Commentary
The Public Health Law and State Sanitary Code retain laws and
rules that were enacted in the past to control specific contagious diseases
that were then prevalent; some remain prevalent today. All of
these diseases are subject to the provisions of the Sanitary Code. To
the extent that disease-specific procedures remain as part of the PHL
and Sanitary Code and are consistent with constitutional due process
requirements, they should be followed.
27

§ 1.56 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.56] V. MANDATORY EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT
[1.57] A. Authority
[1.58] 1. Examination
PHL § 2100(1) [local health officers shall guard against introduction of
communicable disease “by the exercise of proper and vigilant medical
inspection and control of all persons and things infected with or exposed
to such diseases”]. • New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(k)
[“the Commissioner may issue and seek enforcement of . . . orders . . . to
require the testing or medical examination of persons who may be
exposed to or infected by a contagious disease”].
Specific diseases: PHL §§ 2201(1)(f) [State Commissioner has “full
power and authority to examine or cause to be examined” hospital
patients suspected of having tuberculosis]; 2300(1) [health officer “may
cause a medical examination to be made” of persons suspected of having
venereal disease]; 2301 [health officer may seek court order directing that
person suspected of having a venereal disease “shall submit to such
examination and permit such specimens of blood or bodily discharge to
be taken for laboratory examination”]. • New York City: Health Code [24
RCNY] § 11.21(b) [requirements for examination of persons having
contact with persons having active tuberculosis].
[1.59] 2. Treatment
PHL § 2100(2)(a) [local health officers shall “provide for care and isolation
of cases of communicable disease in a hospital or elsewhere when
necessary for protection of the public health”]. See also PHL §§ 206(1)(l)
[“The [State Commissioner of Health] shall . . . establish and operate such
adult and child immunization programs as are necessary to prevent or
minimize the spread of disease and to protect the public health.”]; 613
[State Commissioner shall assist localities in developing and implementing
local programs of immunization]. But see PHL §§ 206(1)(l),
613(1)(c), 2164, 2165 [expressly foreclosing mandatory immunization as
part of these programs except as to school admissions]. • New York City:
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(k) [“the Commissioner [of Health] may
issue and seek enforcement of . . . orders . . . to complete an appropriate,
prescribed course of treatment, preventative medication or vaccinations,
28

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.60
including directly observed therapy to treat the disease . . . .”]. Specific
diseases: PHL § 2303(1) [local health officers may require any person
with communicable venereal disease “to submit to such treatment or isolation,
or both, as may be necessary to terminate such communicable
state”]. • New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.21(d)(2) and (3)
[Commissioner may seek court order requiring a person with active tuberculosis
“to complete an appropriate prescribed course of medication for
tuberculosis” or, if noncompliant, “to follow a course of directly observed
therapy”].
Commentary
Effective control of communicable diseases may require that
persons be subject to mandatory examination and treatment. The
Public Health Law authorizes examination and treatment obliquely
[§§ 2100(1): “proper and vigilant medical inspection”; 2100(2)(a):
“care”]. The more contemporary New York City Health Code
authorizes both examination and treatment directly, with the only
requirement being that the person, upon request, be given “an
opportunity to be heard.” Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(k). The
Public Health Law addresses these areas with more specificity only
when dealing with individual conditions such as tuberculosis and
venereal disease.
[1.60] B. Constitutional Restraints: Examinations
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the
right of people “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures” and requires that no warrants
may issue except “upon probable cause.” See also N.Y. Const., Art. I, § 12
[same]. Intrusions into the human body are “searches” governed by the
Fourth Amendment. See People v. More, 97 N.Y.2d 209, 212-13 (2002)
[body cavity search]; Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers v. Board
of Education, 70 N.Y.2d 57 (1987) [urine test]; Nicholas v. Goord, 430
F.3d 652 (2d Cir. 2005) [DNA test—blood test or cheek swab]. See, in
general, Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757 (1966).
The touchstone of the Fourth Amendment is reasonableness, and the
reasonableness of a search is determined by “assessing, on the one hand,
29

§ 1.60 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
the degree to which it intrudes upon an individual’s privacy, and, on the
other, the degree to which it is needed for the promotion of legitimate
governmental interests.” United States v. Knights, 534 U.S. 112, 118-19
(2001), quoting from Wyoming v. Houghton, 526 U.S. 295, 300 (1999).
While in the criminal context this balancing test usually requires the
obtaining of a warrant based on a showing of probable cause (except in
certain situations permitting searches made incidental to lawful arrests),
the obtaining of warrants and a showing of probable cause are not indispensable
components of reasonableness in every circumstance. MacWade
v. Kelly, 460 F.3d 260, 268 (2d Cir. 2006). A standard of “reasonable suspicion,”
without the obtaining of a warrant, may be permitted “when a
balance of the governmental and private interest makes such a standard
reasonable.” United States v. Knights, supra, 534 U.S. at 121. Where a
search is not directed at uncovering evidence of a crime, the use of a “reasonable
suspicion” test may satisfy that balance. See Patchogue-Medford
Congress of Teachers v. Board of Education, supra, 70 N.Y.2d at 68-69
[urine test]; Nicholas v. Goord, supra, 430 F.3d at 660 [DNA test]. Cf.
City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32, 37 (2000) [roadblock search
held unreasonable in absence of “individual suspicion of wrongdoing”];
Tenenbaum v. Williams, 193 F.3d 581, 599 (2d Cir. 1999) [holding stricter
constitutional standard required to undertake “investigative examination”
of child rather than “one that is ‘medically indicated’ and designed for
treatment”].
There is, however, a “special needs” exception to the reasonable
suspicion standard. Courts have upheld searches, in a non-criminal
context, that are not based on any suspicion, but that are applied to
everyone, or to those randomly selected, in an effort to achieve a greater
public need. In doing so, courts have balanced (1) the weight and
immediacy of the government interest, (2) the nature of the privacy
interest compromised by the search, (3) the character of the intrusion
imposed by the search, and (4) the efficacy of the search in advancing the
government interest. MacWade v. Kelly, supra, 460 F.3d at 269 [applying
special needs exception in upholding random package searches on
subway platforms]. The courts have applied this “special needs”
exception to non-criminal searches of the body. See Nicholas v. Goord,
supra, 430 F.3d 652 [upholding DNA tests for all convicted felons]. See
also Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers v. Board of Education,
30

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.61
supra, 70 N.Y.2d at 70 [discussing applicability of both the reasonable
suspicion test and searches without reasonable suspicion in addressing
random urine tests for teachers].
Commentary
When courts are called upon in non-criminal situations to review the
legality of bodily searches and extraction of bodily fluids, i.e.,
examinations, they apply the reasonable suspicion test or its special
needs exception. Both tests are based on a balancing of public and
private interests, and where the government interest in controlling
the spread of potentially deadly communicable diseases is at stake, it
is likely that courts will find that minimal intrusions such as blood
tests or internal swabs would outweigh what would otherwise be
protected individual privacy interests. See Matter of Storar, 52
N.Y.2d 363, 377 (1981) [“The State has a legitimate interest in protecting
the lives of its citizens. It may require that they submit to
medical procedures in order to eliminate a health threat to the community.”].
[1.61] C. Constitutional Restraints: Treatment
The constitutional restraints governing mandatory treatment are far
greater than those governing mandatory examination. At common law,
every adult of sound mind “has a right to determine what may be done to
his own body . . . and to control the course of his medical treatment.” In re
K.L., 1 N.Y.3d 362, 370 (2004); Rivers v. Katz, 67 N.Y.2d 485, 492
(1986); Matter of Storar, supra, 52 N.Y.2d at 376. This common law right
must be honored even if the treatment is necessary to preserve the
patient’s life, Id. at 377, and is “coextensive with the patient’s liberty
interest protected by the due process clause of our State Constitution.”
Rivers v. Katz, supra, 67 N.Y.2d at 493.
The right to reject treatment must, however, yield to compelling state
interests, including the exercise of the state’s police power where the person
“presents a danger to himself or other members of society.” Rivers v.
Katz, supra, 67 N.Y.2d at 495; see 14 NYCRR § 527.8(a)(4) and (c)(1)
[patient may not receive treatment without consent unless the patient
poses “a risk of physical harm to himself or others”]. (The standard of
31

§ 1.61 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
harm to “self” presumably would not apply where the person is of sound
mind or otherwise capable of making an informed and reasoned judgment
as to treatment). This criterion would require persons to “submit to medical
procedures in order to eliminate a health threat to the community.”
Matter of Storar, supra, 52 N.Y.2d at 377. Mandatory treatment then may
continue “as long as the emergency persists.” Rivers v. Katz, supra, 67
N.Y.2d at 496. See Matter of Sampson, 29 N.Y.2d 900, 901 (1972) [noting
government right to direct treatment of child to protect public health].
In making the determination whether mandatory treatment is constitutional,
courts apply the same substantive and procedural due process standards
as they would for any serious deprivation of liberty, i.e., the same
standards applicable to isolation and quarantine. See IV(G), supra. These
include a finding that the threat to the community is supported by “clear
and convincing evidence,” and that mandatory treatment is the “least
restrictive alternative.” In re K.L., supra, 1 N.Y.3d at 372; Rivers v. Katz,
supra, 67 N.Y.2d at 497-98. And the same procedural due process balancing
test for the timing of the holding of a hearing for judicial review must
apply as well. In re K.L., supra, 1 N.Y.3d at 373-74. See also New York
City Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.23(l) [requiring a court order in New
York City for the forcible administration of any medication].
The principles governing mandatory treatment apply as well to mandatory
vaccination, which is but a subclass of treatment applicable to persons
exposed to or potentially exposed to contagious diseases. To the
extent that mandatory vaccination is not foreclosed by law (and so would
first require a declaration of a health emergency and an order suspending
that law (see VIII, infra)), there would have to be a balancing between a
compelling government interest versus a fundamental personal right and,
where there is a communicable disease health threat, that balance may
well shift to the government. Eichner v. Dillon, 73 A.D.2d 431, 455 (2d
Dep’t 1980), mod. sub nom. Matter of Storar, 52 N.Y.2d 363 (1981) [an
individual “may not refuse to be vaccinated where the refusal presents a
threat to the community at large”]; Ritterband v. Axelrod, 149 Misc. 2d
135 (Sup. Ct., Albany Co., 1990) [rejecting constitutional challenge to
DOH regulations requiring mandatory immunizations of health care
workers for rubella]. See 10 NYCRR § 66-1.10 [in the event of an outbreak
of vaccine-preventable diseases, the State Commissioner of Health
32

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.62
may order school officials to exclude from attendance all students without
documentation of immunity]. See also Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197
U.S. 11 (1905) [upholding mandatory participation in smallpox vaccination
program as a reasonable use of state police power to protect the public
health]. A state may constitutionally mandate vaccination even for
those who object based upon religious belief. Prince v. Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 166-67 (1944). But see PHL § 2164(9)
[requirement in New York that children be vaccinated against certain diseases
in order to attend school is not applicable to children whose parents
“hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practices
herein required”].
Commentary
The statutory authorization for mandatory treatment as a method to
control communicable diseases is tempered by the due process
requirement that this treatment be the “least restrictive alternative.”
Where there is a finding that a communicable disease poses a public
health threat, the court will have to examine whether the threat can
be contained by isolation rather than mandatory treatment. This may
be a particularly viable alternative where a person objects to treatment
or vaccination for religious reasons.
[1.62] VI. INSPECTIONS AND SEIZURES OF PROPERTY
[1.63] A. Authority
[1.64] 1. Public Health Law [Communicable Disease]
PHL §§ 2100(1) [local health officer “shall guard against the
introduction of such communicable diseases . . . by the exercise of proper
and vigilant medical inspection and control of all persons and things
infected with or exposed to such diseases”]; 2100(2)(b) [local health
officer may, “subject to the provisions of the sanitary code, prohibit and
prevent all intercourse and communication with or use of infected
premises, places and things, and require, and if necessary, provide the
means for the thorough purification and cleansing of the same before
general intercourse with the same or use thereof shall be allowed”]. See
also PHL §§ 206(1)(d) [State Commissioner of Health shall “investigate
the causes of disease, epidemics, the sources of mortality, and the effect
33

§ 1.65 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
. . . upon the public health”]; 206(2) [State Commissioner or designee
may “enter, examine and survey all grounds, erections, vehicles,
structures, apartments, buildings and places”].
[1.65] 2. State Sanitary Code [Communicable Disease]
10 NYCRR §§ 2.6(a) [local health officer shall, upon receiving a report
of a communicable disease, “make such an investigation as the circumstances
may require for the purpose of . . . ascertaining the source of the
infection and discovering contacts and unreported cases”]; 2.16(a) [where
there is an “outbreak of illness,” the local health officer shall “exercise
due diligence in ascertaining the existence of such outbreak or the unusual
prevalence of diseases, and shall immediately investigate the causes of
same”]. See also 10 NYCRR § 2.25(e) [defining “quarantine of premises”
as (1) “prohibition of entrance into or exit from the premises” and (2)
“prohibition . . . of the removal from such premises of any article liable to
contamination with infective material”].
[1.66] 3. New York City [Communicable Disease]
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.03(e) [“the [City Health] Department
may conduct such surveillance, epidemiologic and laboratory investigative
activities as it shall deem necessary to verify the diagnosis, ascertain
the source or cause of infection, injury or illness, identify additional
cases, contacts, carriers or others at risk, and implement public health
measures to control the disease or condition and prevent additional morbidity
or mortality”]; New York City Administrative Code [NYC Admin.
Code] § 17-159 [if a building is “infected with a communicable disease,”
the health department may issue an order to vacate the building].
[1.67] 4. Public Health Law [Nuisance]
PHL §§ 1301 [(1) Governor may require the State Commissioner of
Health to “make an examination concerning nuisances or questions affecting
the security of life and health in any locality”; (2) Governor may
“declare the matters public nuisances . . . and may order them to be
changed, abated or removed as he may direct”]; 1303 [(1) local health
officer “may enter upon or within any place or premises where nuisances
or conditions dangerous to life and health . . . are known or believed to
34

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.68
exist”; (2) local health officer “shall furnish the owners, agents and occupants
of the premises with a written statement of the results and conclusions
of any examination”; (3) local board of health “shall order the
suppression and removal of all nuisances and conditions detrimental to
life and health”]; 1305 [(1) owners and occupants of premises “shall permit
sanitary examinations and inspections to be made”; (2) if owner or
occupant of premises “fails to comply” with an order of the local health
officer, the health officer “may enter upon the premises . . . and suppress
or remove such nuisance or other matter”]; 1306 [“The expense of suppression
or removal of a nuisance or conditions detrimental to health shall
be paid by the owner or occupant of the premises or by the person
who caused or maintained such nuisance or other matters.”]. See also 10
NYCRR §§ 8.2 [local health officer to file report of nuisance complaint
with local board of health]; 8.3 [local board of health to serve on owner or
occupant written statement of condition found, a notice to appear before
board of health at a stated time and place and, after a hearing, if condition
constitutes “a nuisance dangerous to health,” an order directing abatement].
[1.68] 5. New York City [Nuisance]
PHL § 1309 [most PHL nuisance provisions do not apply to New York
City]. • New York City: New York City Charter § 556(c)(2) [City Department
of Health authorized to exercise control over and supervise the
abatement of nuisances affecting or likely to affect the public health].
NYC Admin. Code §§ 17-142 [a “nuisance” is something “dangerous to
human life or detrimental to health”]; 17-145 [“Whenever any building[,]
. . . premises[,] . . . matter or thing . . . shall be in a condition or in effect
dangerous to life or health . . . the [board of health] may . . . order the
same to be removed, abated, suspended, altered, or otherwise improved or
purified, as such order shall specify.”]; 17-165 [power to inspect and remove];
17-160 to 17-162 [condemnation proceeding]. See also § 17-114
[in addition to all specified powers, Department has “all common law
rights to abate any nuisance without suit, which can or does in this state
belong to any person”]. Health Code [24 RCNY] §§ 3.03(a) [“The Department
may seize, embargo or condemn any . . . article or thing that it
determines . . . constitutes a danger or nuisance, or is otherwise prejudi-
35

§ 1.69 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
cial to the public health.”]; 3.03(b) [“The Department may destroy, render
harmless, or otherwise dispose of all seized, embargoed or condemned
material without compensation and, in its discretion, at the expense of the
owner or person in control thereof . . . .”]; 3.03(e) [“Except where the Department
determines that immediate action is required to protect the public
health, the Department shall not seize, embargo, condemn, destroy,
render harmless or otherwise dispose of any material pursuant to this section
until the owner or person in control is notified . . . and is given opportunity
to be heard . . . .”]. See § 3.01(a) [“The Department may inspect any
premises, matter or thing within its jurisdiction, including but not limited
to any premises where an activity regulated by this Code is carried on, and
any record required to be kept pursuant to this Code, in accordance with
applicable law.”].
[1.69] 6. Eminent Domain; Public Health Law
PHL §§ 401(1) [“The commissioner [of health], when an appropriation
therefor has been made by the legislature, may acquire any real property
which he may deem necessary for any departmental purpose by purchase
or acquisition pursuant to the eminent domain procedure law.”]; 401(8)-
(12) [procedures for payment of compensation]. Eminent Domain Procedure
Law [EDPL]: §§ 201 [requirement for public hearings and findings];
206(D) [public hearing requirement may be waived “when . . . because of
an emergency situation the public interest will be endangered by any
delay caused by the public hearing requirement”]; 402(B) [procedures for
a vesting proceeding brought by public body to transfer title; filing of
petition and notice of pendency]; 402(B)(6) [“When it appears to the satisfaction
of the court at any stage of the proceedings, that the public interest
will be prejudiced by delay, it may direct that the condemnor be
permitted to enter immediately upon the real property to be taken, and
devote it temporarily to the public use specified in the petition.” Condemnor
must deposit with the court a sum of money fixed by the court to be
applied to ultimate compensation award].
36

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.69
Commentary
There is ample authority in the Public Health Law, State Sanitary
Code and New York City Health Code for local health officers to
enter onto private property to investigate sources of contagious diseases
that may be dangerous to the public health, to abate or remove
objects as required, and to prevent entry into or exit from those premises.
See, e.g., PHL §§ 2100(1) [authority to exercise “proper and
vigilant medical inspection and control of all persons and things”];
2100(2)(b) [authority to prohibit “communication with or use of the
infected property” and to provide for a “thorough purification and
the cleansing of” the property]; 10 NYCRR § 2.6(a) [authority to
conduct an “investigation as the circumstances may require”];
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.03(e) [New York City Health Department
has authority to “conduct such surveillance, epidemiologic and
laboratory investigative activities” and to “implement public health
measures to control the disease”]. As with the authority of local
health officers to implement processes for isolation and quarantine,
local health officers may fill in any gaps in the applicable provisions
of these statutes and rules through the exercise of their common law
police powers. See supra, Commentary to IV(I)(1).
The Public Health Law, and the New York City Health Code and
New York City Administrative Code, similarly contain procedures
addressing public nuisances and permitting the abatement of
conditions dangerous to life or health. PHL § 1303; Health Code [24
RCNY] § 3.03; NYC Admin. Code § 17-145. These conditions go
beyond contagious diseases and can be used to address, e.g.,
radiological or chemical contamination that poses an immediate
health threat to the public. While the procedures governing
nuisances in Article 13 of the PHL are addressed to conditions that
are essentially created by the owner (or occupier) of the property
and that are required, after due notice, to be abated by that owner at
the owner’s expense, Article 13 should not be read as restricting
local health officers from taking immediate action pursuant to their
police powers to enter and seize property where the danger to the
public health so requires. See supra, Commentary to IV(I)(1). See
also PHL § 1303(3) [“Every local board of health shall order the
37

§ 1.70 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
suppression and removal of all nuisances and conditions detrimental
to life and health found to exist within the health district.”].
Compare Health Code [24 RCNY] § 3.03(e) [In New York City,
notice and hearing requirements may be dispensed with “where the
Department determines that immediate action is required to protect
the public health”].
Eminent domain comes into play only when the purpose of the
government’s action is to obtain actual ownership of the property.
The culmination of the eminent domain process is a judicial
“vesting” proceeding brought by the government in which the court
may award title of the property to the government, followed by
judicial determination of just compensation. See EDPL § 402(B);
PHL § 401(8)-(12). While there are provisions in the EDPL for the
government to seize the property for public use in an emergency
situation before the transfer of ownership is completed, EDPL §§
206(D); 402(B)(6), the ultimate objective of the eminent domain
proceeding is the obtaining of ownership by the government. The
addressing of public health emergencies rarely involves that
objective.
[1.70] B. Constitutional Restraints
[1.71] 1. Fourth Amendment: Searches and Seizures
Administrative searches of private dwellings and commercial premises
are governed by the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable
searches and seizures and the requirement that warrants not issue except
upon probable cause. See Camara v. Municipal Court, 387 U.S. 523
(1967). As with the Fourth Amendment constraints on intrusions into the
human body, see IV(B) and (C), supra, the ultimate finding of reasonableness
depends upon a balancing of the governmental and private interests
at stake. See United States v. Knights, 534 U.S. 112, 118-19 (2001). This
entails a balance of the degree of expectation of privacy and the intrusiveness
of the search versus the strength of the government’s interest. Id.
The privacy expectations involved in an administrative search of a residence
are extremely high. See United States v. United States District
38

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.71
Court, 407 U.S. 297, 313 (1972) [“physical entry of the home is the chief
evil against which the wording of the Fourth Amendment is directed”].
By contrast, privacy expectations in commercial premises are “particularly
attenuated” in industries that are “closely regulated.” New York v.
Burger, 482 U.S. 691, 700 (1987). Nevertheless, administrative searches
of a home can fall within the “special needs exception” to the requirement
of obtaining a warrant pursuant to a showing of probable cause—”where
special needs, beyond the normal need for law enforcement, make the
warrant and probable cause requirement impracticable.” Board of Education
v. Earls, 536 U.S. 822, 829 (2002), citing Griffen v. Wisconsin, 483
U.S. 868, 873 (1987).
In applying the special needs exception, the courts perform the same
balancing test of expectations of privacy versus governmental interest.
Where the privacy interest is high, the governmental interest must be substantial.
A substantial government interest would include “exigent conditions”
where the government needs to discover “latent or hidden
conditions” or to “prevent the development of hazardous conditions,”
Board of Education v. Earls, supra, 536 U.S. at 828-29, or seeks to “protect
or preserve life.” Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 392-93 (1978). In
the context of control of contagious diseases or other health hazards, facts
supporting the seriousness of the threat and the need for immediate government
action can justify a warrantless search. See Camara v. Municipal
Court, supra, 387 U.S. at 539 [“nothing we say today is intended to foreclose
prompt inspections, even without a warrant, that the law has traditionally
upheld in emergency situations”], citing North American Cold
Storage v. City of Chicago, 211 U.S. 306 (1908) [seizure of contaminated
food]; Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11 (1905) [mandatory smallpox
vaccination]; Compaignie Francaise v. Louisiana State Board of
Health, 186 U.S. 380 (1902) [health quarantine].
Seizures are subject to the same analysis. A seizure occurs where
“there is some meaningful interference with an individual’s possessory
interests in that property,” which would include the forced ejection of a
person from the property. Soldal v. Cook County, 506 U.S. 56, 60 (1992).
The same balancing test applicable to searches, including the special
needs exception, would apply.
39

§ 1.72 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.72] 2. Fourteenth Amendment: Procedural Due Process
The Fourteenth Amendment prohibits deprivation of property without
due process of law. A pre-deprivation hearing is rarely feasible in an
administrative search and seizure context where property is seized incidental
to a search, especially a warrantless search based upon exigent
needs; procedural due process then must be satisfied by a meaningful
post-deprivation remedy. See Gilbert v. Horn, 520 U.S. 924, 930 (1997)
[“where a State must act quickly or where it would be impractical to provide
pre-deprivation process, post-deprivation process satisfies the requisites
of the Due Process Clause”]; Hodel v. Virginia Surface Mining &
Reclamation Association, 452 U.S. 264, 299-301 (1981) [no prior hearing
is necessary when a seizure responds to a situation in which swift government
action is necessary to protect the public health and safety]. The
availability of judicial actions for damages or replevin should satisfy the
post-deprivation remedy requirement (and may do so even in non-emergency
situations). See Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517 (1984) [common
law suit for damages sufficient post-deprivation remedy]; Parratt v. Taylor,
451 U.S. 527, 541 (1981) [same]; Smith v. O’Connor, 901 F. Supp.
644, 647 (S.D.N.Y. 1995) [meaningful post-deprivation hearings in action
for damages, negligence, replevin or conversion are sufficient]; Hellenic
American Neighborhood Action Committee v. City of New York, 101 F.3d
877, 881 (2d Cir. 1996) [“An Article 78 proceeding is a perfectly adequate
post-deprivation remedy.”].
[1.73] 3. Fifth Amendment; State Constitution, Article I,
Section 7(a): Just Compensation for Seized Property
Both the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and section
7(a) of Article I of the State Constitution provide that private property
shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. (The Takings
Clause of the Fifth Amendment applies to state action through the Fourteenth
Amendment.) While these protections are written into the government’s
acquisition of real property under the Eminent Domain Procedure
Law, they apply as well to “seizures” of property by government action
apart from its formal acquisition by petition under the eminent domain
procedures of the EDPL, e.g., where a governmental action restricts the
use of a property. See, e.g., Agins v. City of Tiburon, 447 U.S. 255 (1980)
[challenge to zoning ordinance restricting development of property];
40

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.73
Gazza v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 89
N.Y.2d 603 (1997) [challenge to administrative decision denying variance
for construction in tidal wetlands]. Nor are compensable “takings” limited
to real property; the constitutional protection applies to any “private property.”
See, e.g., Andrus v. Allard, 444 U.S. 51 (1979) [takings clause analysis
applied to prohibition of sale of eagle feathers]. See also EDPL § 708
[applying the procedures of the EDPL where a government is authorized
to acquire for public use title to property other than real property].
In order for government action to be subject to the “just compensation”
remedy, there must first be a “taking.” Where there is a legitimate exercise
of the police power supported by a substantial government interest, the
test is whether the owner is deprived of property rights, Gazza v. New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation, supra, 89 N.Y.2d at
616, and there is much case law addressing at what stage the government’s
adjustment of rights for the public good results in such a deprivation
of property rights as to constitute a “taking” requiring compensation.
See Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc., 544 U.S. 528, 537-39 (2005) [enumerating
government actions deemed takings of property]; Tahoe-Sierra
Preservation Council v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 535 U.S. 302,
322-23 (2002) [the government’s taking of a leasehold and physical occupation
of the property, even if temporary, is a taking; determining whether
regulation of the use of property constitutes a taking “entails complex factual
assessments of the purposes and economic effects of government
actions”]; Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, 505 U.S. 1003 (1992)
[holding that the line may be crossed regardless of the public good where
a regulatory action deprives land of all economical beneficial use]; Penn
Central Transportation Co. v. City of New York, 438 U.S. 104 (1978)
[applying a balancing test for regulatory actions that weighs the economic
impact of the regulation, the extent to which it has interfered with reasonable
investment-backed expectations, and the character of the government
action].
These principles, however, do not apply where the seizure of property
is to address public health hazards related to the property. There is no deprivation
of property rights in that context, because the ownership of property
carries with it a limitation that “inhere[s] in the title itself, in the
41

§ 1.73 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
restrictions that background principles of the State’s law of property and
nuisance already place upon land ownership.” Lucas v. South Carolina
Coastal Council, supra, 505 U.S. at 1029. All property is held under the
implied obligation that the owner’s use of it is not injurious to the community.
Keystone Bituminous Coal Association v. DeBenedictis, 480 U.S.
470, 491-92 (1987). The state is not required to provide compensation for
the seizure of property “to abate nuisances that affect the public generally,”
Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, supra, 505 U.S. at 1029,
or “for the destruction of ‘real and personal property, in cases of actual
necessity, to prevent the spreading of a fire’ or to forestall other grave
threats to the lives and property of others.” Id. at n.16, citing Bowditch v.
Boston, 101 U.S. 16, 18-19 (1880). As the Supreme Court has stated,
“[S]ince no individual has a right to use his property so as to create a nuisance
or otherwise harm others, the State has not taken anything when it
asserts its power to enjoin the nuisance-like activity.” Keystone Bituminous
Coal Association v. DeBenedictis, supra, 480 U.S. at 491, n.20. Cf.
PHL § 1306(1) [“The expense of suppression or removal of a nuisance or
conditions detrimental to health shall be paid by the owner or occupant of
the premises . . . .”].
Whether compensation is due in a public health emergency for the use
of property that is not itself a hazard, such as commandeering property to
shelter victims or to serve as a dispensary for medical treatment, may depend
on the circumstances. Actual physical possession of property, even if
temporary, can be considered a “taking,” Tahoe-Sierra Preservation
Council v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, supra, 535 U.S. at 322, and
since the property is itself not producing the “nuisance-like activity,” Keystone
Bituminous Coal Association v. DeBenedictis, supra, 48 U.S. at
491, there may be a right to compensation. See New York City Charter
§ 560 [during “an epidemic or in the presence of great and imminent peril
to the public health,” the City Board of Health “may take possession of
any buildings in the city for temporary hospitals and shall pay a just compensation
for any private property so taken”]. However, where such property
is needed in responding to an emergency where no statute requires
compensation, no compensation may be due. See In re Cheesebrough, 78
N.Y. 232, 237 (1879) [“in cases of actual necessity, [including] the ravages
of a pestilence . . . the private property of any individual may be law-
42

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.74
fully taken, used or destroyed for the general good, without [compensation].
In such cases, the rights of private property must be made
subservient to the public welfare”].
Commentary
The power of government officers to search and seize private property
in the course of administrative regulation is subject to considerable
constitutional restraints to ensure that the government action is
taken for proper purposes and respects the property rights of the
affected persons. These restraints are lessened when addressing public
health concerns, and are essentially set aside when exigent circumstances
require immediate action to protect the public health.
Local health officers may take any reasonable actions where health
conditions require that immediate action be taken; violations of individual
property rights, if actionable, would generally be sorted out
after the need for such actions has ended.
[1.74] VII. CONTROL OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS WITH
DISEASES AFFECTING HUMANS
[1.75] A. Agriculture and Markets Law [AML]
[1.76] 1. Searches and Seizures
AML §§ 72(1) [“The commissioner [of the Department of Agriculture
and Markets [DAM]] may cause investigations to be made as to the best
method for control, suppression or eradication of infectious or communicable
disease . . . carried by domestic animals and affecting humans . . . .
Whenever any such disease shall exist . . . the commissioner shall take
measures promptly to suppress the same and to prevent such disease from
spreading.”]; 20 [agents of DAM “shall have full access to all places of
business, factories, farms, buildings . . . used in the production, manufacture,
storage, sale or transportation . . . of any article or product [where
authority is conferred by AML]”]; 16(27) [DAM has authority to “seize,
destroy or denature so that it cannot thereafter be used for food, any
unwholesome food or food products [including diseased animals]”]; 85
[authority to destroy diseased carcasses]. See also 1 NYCRR § 52.1 [“The
commissioner [of DAM], each veterinarian, inspector and other authorized
employees of [DAM] shall have full access to all lands, buildings or
43

§ 1.77 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
housing upon or in which there are kept for breeding, raising, feeding or
slaughtering, domestic animals, including poultry, and may examine such
animals . . . .”].
[1.77] 2. Vaccination
AML § 72(3) [“The commissioner [of DAM] may adopt and enforce
rules and regulations for the control, suppression or eradication of communicable
diseases in domestic animals or for the purpose of preventing
the spread of infection and contagion . . . from such animals to humans
. . . . When the commissioner finds that an emergency situation exists, the
commissioner may by regulation require that all domestic animals of any
designated species be immunized against any designated disease.”] See
also AML § 72(1), supra.
[1.78] 3. Quarantine
AML §§ 76(1) [DAM Commissioner or agent “may order any animal
to be put in quarantine if such animal (a) is affected with a communicable
disease, (b) has been exposed to a communicable disease, (c) is believed
to be suffering from or exposed to a communicable disease or (d) is suspected
of having biological or chemical residues in its tissues which
would cause the carcass or carcasses of such animal, if slaughtered, to be
adulterated . . . and may order any premises or farm where such disease or
condition exists or shall have recently existed to be put in quarantine so
that no domestic animal shall be removed from or brought to the premises
quarantined during the time of quarantine”]; 76(3) [premises may be
quarantined where owner refuses to let animals be tested]. See also AML
§ 72(1), supra.
[1.79] 4. Destruction of Animals Exposed to Disease
AML §§ 85 [“Whenever [in the judgment of the DAM Commissioner]
it is necessary for the more speedy and economical suppression or prevention
of the spread of any such disease, [the commissioner] may cause to
be slaughtered . . . any animals or animals which by contact or association
with diseased animals or other exposure to infection or contagion may be
considered or suspected to be liable to contract or communicate the disease
sought to be suppressed or prevented.”]; 88 [provisions for indemnity
44

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.80
for destroyed animals]. See also AML § 72(1), supra; PHL §§ 2141,
2143, 2144, 2145 [special provisions for control of animals with rabies].
[1.80] B. New York City Health Code
[1.81] 1. Reports
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.25(a) and (b) [list of animal diseases that
must be reported within 24 hours of diagnosis by veterinarian or other
person responsible for animal care or treatment].
[1.82] 2. Investigation
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.25(d)(1) [City Department of Health to
“make such investigation as the Department considers necessary for the
purpose of verifying diagnosis, ascertaining source of infection and discovering
other animals and humans exposed to the animal . . . . The
Department may collect or require to be collected for laboratory examination
such specimens as the Department considers to be necessary to assist
in diagnosis or ascertaining the source of infection, and shall order the
owner or other person harboring or having control of the animal to take
such measures as may be necessary to prevent further spread of the disease
and to reduce morbidity and mortality in animals and humans.”].
[1.83] 3. Seizure and Isolation
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.25(d)(2) [“An animal infected with or
suspected of having any disease listed in this section may be seized or
impounded by the Department . . . and be ordered held or isolated at the
owner’s expense under such conditions as may be specified by the Department.”].
[1.84] 4. Destruction
Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.25(d)(2) [“[W]here the Department has
determined that an animal presents an imminent and substantial threat
to the public health, such animal may be humanely destroyed immediately
. . . .”]. See also § 11.27 [special rules for control of animals with
rabies].
45

§ 1.85 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
Commentary
The laws governing domestic and other animals harboring diseases
that are contagious to humans contain authority for control mechanisms
that are similar to those that apply to contagious diseases in
humans themselves—investigations, seizures, isolation, quarantine,
vaccinations. These laws also authorize the ultimate remedy: the
slaughter of the infected animals and any animals that may have
been exposed to the disease. As with any order issued by an administrative
body or officer, an order of the DAM or City Commissioner
of Health is subject to judicial review by an Article 78 proceeding.
The City of New York remains subject to the provisions of the Agriculture
and Markets Law, but has issued its own rules to more precisely
apply animal restrictions and control to an urban environment.
[1.85] VIII. EMERGENCY RESPONSES TO DISASTERS
[1.86] A. Authority
[1.87] 1. Executive Law [Exec. Law]
Executive Law Article 2-B addresses the local and State responses to
“disasters,” including epidemics and other public health emergencies. See
Exec. Law § 20(2)(a) [“disaster” means “occurrence or imminent threat of
widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting
from any natural or man-made causes, including but not limited to . . . epidemic,
air contamination . . . infestation . . . radiological accident, nuclear,
chemical, biological or bacteriological release, water contamination
. . . .”]. The provisions of Article 2-B of the Executive Law are applicable
to New York City.
[1.88] a. Role of Localities
[1.89] (i) Local Disaster Emergency Plans
Executive Law §§ 23(1) [“Each county, except those contained in the
city of New York, and each city, town and village is authorized to prepare
comprehensive emergency management plans . . . . City, town and village
plans shall be coordinated with the county plan.”]; 23(7) [“Such plans
shall include, but not be limited to: . . . . (b) Disaster response . . . [and]
46

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.90
shall include, but not be limited to: (1) coordination of resources, management
and services . . . . (4) arrangements for activating municipal and volunteer
forces . . . . (6) a plan for coordination [of] evacuation procedures
. . . . (11) care for the injured and needy . . . . (13) control of ingress and
egress to and from a disaster area . . . .”]. The comprehensive emergency
plans also must include plans for disaster prevention and disaster recovery.
Exec. Law § 23(7)(a) and (c).
[1.90] (ii) Local Responses to Disasters
Executive Law §§ 25(1) [“Upon the threat or occurrence of a disaster,
the chief executive of any political subdivision is hereby authorized and
empowered to and shall use any and all facilities, equipment, supplies,
personnel and other resources of his political subdivision in such manner
as may be necessary or appropriate to cope with the disaster or any emergency
resulting therefrom.”]; 25(7) [“Any power or authority conferred
upon any political subdivision by this section shall be in addition to and
not in substitution for or limitation of any powers or authority otherwise
vested in such subdivision or any officer thereof.”]; 26 [(1) “Upon threat
or occurrence of a disaster, the chief executive of a county may coordinate
responses for requests for assistance made by the chief executive of any
political subdivision within the county” and (2) “shall utilize any comprehensive
emergency management plans prepared by the affected municipality.”].
See § 20(1)(a) [local government is “the first line of defense in
times of disaster”].
[1.91] (iii) Local Use of Disaster Emergency Response Personnel
Executive Law §§ 29-b(2)(a) [“Upon threat or occurrence of a disaster,
. . . the county chief executive may direct the emergency management
director of a county to assist in the protection and preservation of human
life or property by calling upon disaster emergency response personnel
employed by or supported by that county . . . to perform the emergency
response duties assigned to them.”]; 29-b(2)(b) [“The disaster emergency
response personnel of the county shall be regarded as a reserve disaster
force to be activated . . . by the county emergency management director
. . . when the county chief executive . . . is convinced that the personnel
and resources of local municipal and private agencies normally available
47

§ 1.92 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
for disaster assistance are insufficient adequately to cope with the disaster.”];
29-b(3) [same as to a city’s use of disaster emergency response personnel].
See § 20(2)(g) [“‘Disaster emergency response personnel’ means
agencies, public officers, employees or affiliated volunteers having duties
and responsibilities under or pursuant to a comprehensive emergency
management plan”].
[1.92] (iv) Local States of Emergency and Suspension of Local Laws
Executive Law § 24(1) [“in the event of a disaster . . . and upon a finding
by the chief executive [of a county, city, town or village] that the public
safety is imperiled thereby, such chief executive may proclaim a local
state of emergency . . . . Following such proclamation and during the continuance
of the local state of emergency, the chief executive may promulgate
local emergency orders to protect life and property or to bring the
emergency situation under control. As illustration, such orders may . . .
provide for:
(a) the establishment of a curfew and the prohibition and control of
pedestrian and vehicle traffic . . . ;
(b) the designation of specific zones within which the occupancy and
use of buildings and the ingress and egress of vehicles and persons
may be prohibited or regulated;
(c) the regulation and closing of places of amusement and assembly;
* * *
(e) the prohibition and control of the presence of persons on public
streets and places;
* * *
(g) the suspension . . . of any of its local laws, ordinances or regulations,
or parts thereof subject to federal and state constitutional,
statutory and regulatory limitations, which may prevent, hinder, or
delay necessary action in coping with a disaster or recovery therefrom
[but only when a request has been made to the Governor for
48

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.93
state assistance and the state assistance is necessary to supplement
local efforts to save lives and to protect property, public health
and safety, or to avert or lessen the threat of a disaster (Exec. Law
§ 24(7)) or whenever the Governor has declared a state disaster
emergency pursuant to Exec. Law § 28(1)].”].
The powers afforded under Executive Law § 24 are in addition to all
those the locality or its chief executive would otherwise have. Exec. Law
§ 24(4) [“Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit the power of
any local government to confer upon its chief executive any additional
duties or responsibilities deemed appropriate.”]. Violation of an order
issued under Executive Law § 24 is a misdemeanor. Exec. Law § 24(5).
[1.93] b. Role of the State
[1.94] (i) State Disaster Preparedness Plans
Executive Law §§ 21(1) [establishment of state disaster preparedness
commission]; 21(3)(c) [power of commission to prepare state disaster
preparedness plans]; 22(3) [contents of state disaster preparedness plans
—which include the same subject areas of disaster prevention, response
and recovery that are included in section 23 of the Executive Law governing
local disaster emergency plans (see A(1)(a)(i), above)]. All powers of
the State Civil Defense Commission (see 3, below—State Defense Emergency
Act) are assigned to the State Disaster Preparedness Commission.
Exec. Law § 21(4).
[1.95] (ii) State Declaration of Disaster Emergency
Executive Law §§ 28 [(1) “Whenever the governor . . . finds that a
disaster has occurred or may be imminent for which local governments
are unable to respond adequately, he shall declare a disaster emergency by
executive order”; (3) the order shall remain in effect for no more than six
months, with additional orders not exceeding six months]; 29 [“Upon the
declaration of a state disaster emergency,” the Governor may direct state
agencies “to provide assistance under the coordination of the disaster preparedness
commission”—which includes equipment, supplies, medicines,
food and personnel, as well as “performing on public or private lands tem-
49

§ 1.96 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
porary emergency work essential for the protection of public health and
safety.”]; 29-b(1) [“The governor may, in his or her discretion, direct the
state disaster preparedness commission to conduct an emergency exercise
or drill under its direction, in which all or any of the personnel and
resources of the agencies of the commission of the state may be utilized to
perform the duties assigned to them in a disaster for the purpose of protecting
and preserving human life or property in a disaster.”].
[1.96] (iii) Suspension of Laws
Executive Law §§ 29-a(1) [“Subject to the state constitution, the federal
constitution and federal statutes and regulations . . . the governor may
by executive order temporarily suspend specific provisions of any statute,
local law, ordinance, or orders, rules or regulations, or parts thereof, of
any agency during a state disaster emergency.”]; 29-a(2)(a) [suspension
for no more than 30 days; extensions for periods not to exceed 30 days];
29-a(2)(b) [“no suspension shall be made which does not safeguard the
health and welfare of the public and which is not reasonably necessary to
the disaster effort”]; 29-a(2)(d) [“the order may provide for such suspension
only under particular circumstances, and may provide for the alteration
or modification of the requirements of such statute, local law, order,
rule or regulation suspended, and may include other terms and conditions”];
29-a(2)(e) [suspension shall provide for “the minimum deviation”
from the requirements of the law or order “consistent with the disaster
action deemed necessary”]; 29-a(3) [suspensions “shall be published as
soon as practicable in the state bulletin”]; 29-a(4) [the Legislature by concurrent
resolution may terminate the suspension of laws].
[1.97] 2. Additional Statutory Authority for New York City
New York City Charter § 560 [In the event of a “great and imminent
peril to the public health,” the City Board of Health may issue a “declaration
of imminent peril” and “take such measures, and order the [City
Department of Health] to do such acts beyond those duly provided for the
preservation of the public health”]; Health Code [24 RCNY] § 3.01(d)
[“Where urgent public health action is necessary to protect the public
health against an imminent or existing threat, the [New York City Commissioner
of Health] may declare a public health emergency . . . and . . .
may establish procedures to be followed, issue necessary orders and take
50

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.98
such actions as may be necessary for the health or the safety of the City
and its residents. Such procedures, orders or actions may include, but are
not limited to, exercising the [Board of Health’s] authority to suspend,
alter or modify any provision of [the New York City Health Code], or
exercising any other power of the Board of Health to prevent, mitigate,
control or abate an emergency” until the Board has an opportunity to
meet]. The City Commissioner’s emergency powers under section 3.01(d)
are “separate and apart” from the Mayor’s emergency powers under Executive
Law § 24, see § 3.01(e).
[1.98] 3. State Defense Emergency Act [SDEA]
The SDEA applies only to “an attack . . . by an enemy or foreign
nation upon the United States.” Unconsolidated Laws [Unconsol. Laws]
§ 9103(2) [an “attack” is “[a]ny attack, actual or imminent, or series of
attacks by an enemy or foreign nation upon the United States causing, or
which may cause, substantial damage or injury to civilian property or persons
in the United States in any manner by sabotage or by use of bombs,
shellfire, or nuclear, radiological, chemical, bacteriological, or biological
means or other weapons or processes”].
[1.99] a. Civil Defense Plans
Unconsolidated Laws §§ 9121(3) [State civil defense commission to
adopt “a comprehensive plan for the civil defense of the state”; detailed
listing of what must be included in the plan] (The state civil defense commission
is now the state disaster preparedness commission established
pursuant to section 21 of the Executive Law. See Exec. Law § 21(4).);
9122(1) and (2) [Every county and city must “prepare and make effective”
a civil defense plan and create a civil defense office]; 9123 [Every county
and city must (1)(a) create a plan that provides for “full integration of existing
resources, of manpower, materials, facilities and services into a
civil defense force and a detailed plan for civil defense operations in the
event of attack”; (4) “Equip and train the members of all municipal agencies
for the performance of specific civil defense duties during and subsequent
to attack”; (5) “Organize, approve, recruit, equip and train volunteer
agencies for civil defense purposes”]. See § 9103(6) [definition of “civil
defense forces”—“agencies, public officers, employees, and enrolled civil
defense volunteers, all having duties and responsibilities under or pursu-
51

§ 1.100 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
ant to this act in connection with civil defense”]. (The “civil defense
forces” authorized pursuant to the SDEA have been effectively replaced
by the “disaster emergency response personnel” governed by the Executive
Law. See Exec. Law §§ 20(2)(g); 29-b].)
[1.100] b. Response to an “Attack”
Unconsolidated Laws § 9129 [(1) [“in the event of attack,” the state
civil defense commission may “(a) assume direct operational control of
any or all civil defense forces”; (b) order the use of personnel and equipment
where needed; (d) “take, use or destroy any and all real or personal
property, or any interest therein, necessary or proper for the purposes of
civil defense”; and (e) execute any of the civil defense powers and duties
of counties or cities]; (2) [in the event of attack, a county or city (a) may
compel evacuations (includes “anticipation” of an attack); (b) “shall control
all pedestrian and vehicular traffic, transportation and communication
facilities and public utilities; provide medical treatment, food, clothing,
shelter and care for the injured and needy; provide for public safety and
the protection and conservation of property; . . . and provide for the restoration
of essential services and facilities”; (c) “to the extent necessary to
perform such functions . . . it may take, use or destroy real or personal
property and impress persons into service for the performance of such
work”]; (3) and (4) [“just compensation must be paid to the owner of the
property taken” pursuant to § 9129]].
Commentary
The statutory emergency provisions in the Executive Law exist in
tandem with the other statutory and the common law police powers
of local chief executives and health officers to take necessary action
to deal with health emergencies—both those caused by contagious
diseases and those caused by other conditions harmful to the public
health. See sections IV (Isolation and Quarantine), V (Mandatory
Examination and Treatment) and VI (Inspections and Seizures of
Property). The localities’ common law police power is especially
broad-based and robust. See Commentary to IV(I)(1), supra. Where
there is a “disaster,” i.e., “the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread
or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property,” Exec.
52

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.100
Law § 20(2)(a), the chief executive of the locality is authorized to
“proclaim a local state of emergency.” Exec. Law § 24(1). Once having
done so, local authorities may establish curfews, quarantine
wide areas, close businesses, restrict public assemblies and, under
certain circumstances, suspend local ordinances. However, in the
absence of the proclamation of a “local state of emergency,” the
existing statutory and common law police powers include most of
the same powers that could be activated by the state-of-emergency
declaration (except the suspension of laws). The distinction between
the exercise of statutory and common law police powers and the
exercise of statutory emergency powers is a matter of degree, with
the declaration of a local state of emergency addressing responses to
conditions that are “widespread or severe.”
Where the Governor has made a finding that “local governments are
unable to respond adequately” to a disaster, the Governor may declare
a “disaster emergency” by executive order. Exec. Law § 28(1).
Since the statutory scheme for responding to public health concerns
places that response primarily in local authorities, it is unlikely that
the State would take direct action in a public health crisis without a
governor’s order declaring a disaster emergency, unless the source of
the crisis is identifiable and specific enough to be addressed by the
issuance of an order of the State Commissioner of Health under PHL
§ 16.
One consequence of the issuing of a declaration of emergency on
either the state or local level is that it can set into motion statutory
provisions relating to the use of disaster emergency response personnel
to meet the emergency. These “disaster emergency response personnel”
are the replacements of the “civil defense forces” that were
created pursuant to the State Defense Emergency Act, which was
enacted in 1951 as a product of the “Cold War” to facilitate state and
local responses in an enemy “attack.” The SDEA does not apply to
naturally occurring outbreaks of disease. While the SDEA remains
in place to address enemy attacks, it has for the most part been subsumed
by the Executive Law emergency response provisions that
cover all emergencies, including attacks. See In re World Trade Cen-
53

§ 1.101 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
ter Disaster Site Litigation, 456 F. Supp. 2d 520, 548-49 (S.D.N.Y.
2006), aff’d in part and dismissed in part, 521 F.3d 169 (2d Cir.
2008) [containing a detailed discussion of the interplay between the
Executive Law emergency disaster provisions and the State Defense
Emergency Act, holding that the SDEA remains viable, and concluding
that while the Executive Law provisions would apply to all
disasters, the SDEA applies to terrorist attacks and can be applied as
such even without being invoked].
The Executive Law permits the local chief executive to suspend
local laws or regulations after declaring a local state of emergency,
but only when the Governor has declared a state disaster emergency
or where the locality has requested state assistance because the
disaster is beyond the capacity of local government to meet adequately.
Exec. Law § 24(1)(g), (7). The Governor may suspend specific
provisions of any laws or regulations, state or local, by
declaring a state disaster emergency. Exec. Law § 29-a(1). But these
suspensions of law are not necessary for local health officers to exercise
fully their powers to isolate, quarantine, examine, treat or search
and seize; those powers can already be exercised pursuant to existing
statutes, rules and common law. Suspension of laws would be
used predominantly to supplement this existing authority, such as
the Governor’s suspension of licensing requirements during the
H1N1 flu pandemic to permit additional health practitioners to give
flu shots. Executive Order No. 29, October 28, 2009.
The authority to suspend laws remains subject to federal and state
constitutional requirements (and federal laws). Executive Law §§
24(1)(g); 29-a(1). This should not prove to be an obstacle, because
federal and state constitutional restraints permit expeditious actions
in emergency situations. See, supra, IV(G) [Isolation and Quarantine];
V(B) and (C) [Mandatory Examination and Treatment]; VI(B)
[Inspection and Seizure of Property].
[1.101] c. Allocation of Resources in Disasters
[No applicable statutes or rules]
54

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.101
Commentary
Among the most critical, and most sensitive, decisions that have to
be made by medical professionals in response to public health disasters
is how to allocate scarce resources to vulnerable populations.
Epidemics—or biological, chemical or radiological disasters—
could put overwhelming demands on the need for medicines, vaccines,
medical devices (such as ventilators), and hospital facilities.
There are no statutes or rules directly addressing which vulnerable
persons should get priority to limited health resources, although federal
and state anti-discrimination laws protecting various populations
(e.g., the elderly and the disabled) could constrain government
actions that would otherwise have a discriminatory impact.
Health care providers therefore need to work within an ethical
framework that balances the duty to care for patients with the duty to
use scarce resources wisely. In serious health emergencies, this most
likely would involve a triage system that balances the obligation to
save the greatest number of lives against the obligation to care for
each single patient. See 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd; 42 CFR § 489.24(1)
[hospitals that have emergency departments have obligation to provide
a medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment to
every patient who arrives for care]. Such a system would generally
be based on clinical evaluations of which persons would have the
best chance to survive given the resources available. The specific
criteria for making such grim decisions remain a source of active
debate in the health care community. The State Department of
Health, in coordination with the New York Task Force on Life and
the Law, and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) have issued plans for allocation of scarce resources in specific
situations (see State plan for allocation of ventilators in an
influenza pandemic, available at http://www.nyhealth.gov/; CDC
prioritization of H1N1 vaccine recipients in 2009, available at http://
www.cdc.gov/) but, absent such prioritization, health care providers
are not required to institute any specific allocation protocols. Failure
to comply with any existing state and federal requirements and
guidelines could carry severe consequences, including loss of government
funding.
55

§ 1.102 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.102] C. Statutory Immunity From Liability
[1.103] 1. State Defense Emergency Act
Unconsolidated Laws § 9193(1) [“The state, any political subdivision,
municipal or volunteer agency . . . or a civil defense force thereof . . . or
any individual . . . in good faith carrying out, complying or attempting to
comply with any law, any rule, regulation or order duly promulgated or
issued pursuant to this act . . . including but not limited to activities pursuant
thereto, in preparation for anticipated attack, during attack or following
attack or false warning thereof, or in connection with an authorized
drill or test, shall not be liable for any injury or death to persons or damage
to property as the result thereof.”]. See Exec. Law § 29-b(1), below.
[1.104] 2. Executive Law
Executive Law §§ 25(5) [“A political subdivision shall not be liable for
any claim based upon the exercise or performance or the failure to exercise
or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of any officer
or employee in carrying out the provisions of this section” [which authorize
the chief executive of any political subdivision to use any facilities,
equipment and personnel “in such manner as may be necessary or appropriate
to cope with the disaster or any emergency resulting therefrom.”
§ 25(1)]]; 23-a(6) [“A county shall not be liable for any claim based upon
the good faith exercise or performance or the good faith failure to exercise
or perform a function or duty on the part of any officer or employee in
carrying out a local disaster preparedness plan.”]; 26(3) [“A chief executive
or any elected or appointed county, city, town or village official shall
not be held responsible for acts or omissions of municipal employees,
disaster preparedness forces or civil defense forces when performing
disaster assistance pursuant to a declared disaster emergency or when
exercising comprehensive emergency management plans.”]; 29-b(1)
[“The governor may, in his or her discretion, direct the state disaster preparedness
commission to conduct an emergency exercise or drill under its
direction, in which all or any of the personnel and resources of the agencies
of the commission of the state may be utilized to perform the duties
assigned to them in a disaster for the purpose of protecting and preserving
human life or property in a disaster. During a disaster or such drill or exer-
56

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.104
cise, disaster emergency response personnel in the state shall operate
under the direction and command of the chair of such commission and
shall possess the same powers, duties, rights, privileges and immunities as
are applicable in a civil defense drill held at the direction of the state civil
defense commission under the provisions of the New York State defense
emergency act.”] (see below for definition of “drill” under the SDEA);
29-b(2)(e) [“When performing disaster assistance pursuant to this section,
county disaster emergency response personnel shall operate under the
direction and command of the county emergency management director
and his or her duly authorized deputies, and shall possess the same powers,
duties, rights, privileges and immunities they would possess when
performing their duties in a locally sponsored civil defense drill or training
exercise in the civil or political subdivision in which they are enrolled,
employed or assigned emergency response responsibilities.”]; 29-b(3)(e)
[“When performing disaster assistance pursuant to this subdivision, disaster
emergency response personnel [of a city] shall operate under the direction
and command of the city emergency management director and his or
her duly authorized deputies, and shall possess the same powers, duties,
rights, privileges, and immunities they would possess when performing
their duties in a locally sponsored civil defense drill or training exercise in
the city in which they are enrolled, employed or assigned emergency
response responsibilities.”]; 29-b(2)(h) [“Neither the chief executive of a
city, nor the county chief executive, nor any elected or appointed town or
village official to whom the county chief executive has delegated supervisory
power as aforesaid shall be responsible for acts or omissions of
disaster emergency response personnel when performing disaster assistance.”];
29-b(3)(h) [“Neither the chief executive officer of a city, nor the
county chief executive, shall be held responsible for acts or omissions of
disaster emergency response personnel when performing disaster assistance.”].
See Unconsol. Laws § 9103(14) [“drill” includes “assistance by
civil defense forces in combating natural or peacetime disasters upon the
direction of a public officer authorized by law to call upon a civil defense
director for assistance in protecting human life or property”].
57

§ 1.105 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.105] 3. Federal Public Readiness and Emergency
Preparedness Act
The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (the PREP
Act), 42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d, provides a wide range of persons and entities,
including governmental entities and public health workers, with broadbased
immunity from claims arising from the production and use of
“countermeasures,” including vaccines and other drugs, in response to a
denominated “public health emergency.” The list of such emergencies
currently includes those caused by smallpox, pandemic flu, anthrax and
botulism. See also 42 U.S.C. § 233(p) [providing for federal indemnification
for claims arising from vaccination against smallpox].
[1.106] 4. Federal Volunteer Protection Act
The Volunteer Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 14501 et seq., provides
volunteers with immunity from liability in circumstances where the volunteer
was acting within the scope of his or her responsibilities in a nonprofit
organization or governmental entity. See 42 U.S.C. § 14503.
Commentary
The State Defense Emergency Act, which is applicable only to
enemy attacks, grants immunity from liability to a broad range of
government entities and public and private individuals who were “in
good faith carrying out, complying with or attempting to comply
with any law.” Unconsol. Laws § 9193(1). Section 29-b of the
Executive Law governs all disaster emergencies, including those
caused by attacks, and extends this SDEA immunity provision to a
wide range of disaster emergency response personnel (including
volunteers) preparing for and responding to a “disaster.” Exec. Law
§ 29-b(1). See also § 29-b(2)(e) and (3)(e). To the extent that the
conditions of section 29-b may not be met, the Executive Law
contains multiple provisions granting immunity to political
subdivisions, counties, and county and local “officials” when
performing disaster assistance. See Exec. Law §§ 23-a(6), 25(5),
26(3), 29-b(2)(h), 29-b(3)(h). And there may be a retroactive
legislative response addressing immunity in specific public health
disaster emergencies.
58

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.106
In those instances where statutory immunity would not apply,
actions against governmental entities, officials and employees, and
public health workers and other emergency responders would be
limited by general common law principles of liability. See, e.g.,
Crayton v. Larabee, 220 N.Y. 493, 502 (1917) [action for damages
for quarantine; no liability for “mere error in judgment” but action
may be maintained if decision to quarantine was “arbitrary, unreasonable
or oppressive,” or in excess of authority]; Caristo v. Sanzone,
96 N.Y.2d 172, 175 (2001) [emergency action doctrine—a
person faced with “a sudden and unexpected circumstance which
leaves little or no time for thought, deliberation or consideration” is
judged on whether response is that of a reasonably prudent person
under the circumstances]. See, in general, McLean v. City of New
York, 12 N.Y.3d 194, 203 (2009) [“Government action, if discretionary,
may not be a basis for liability, while ministerial actions may be,
but only if they violate a special duty owed to the plaintiff, apart
from any duty to the public in general.”].
Public employees may be eligible to receive indemnification from
the state or locality should they be subject to liability. Public Officers
Law [POL] §§ 17 (defense and indemnification of state officers
and employees) and 18 (defense and indemnification of local officers
and employees) [both affording public employees, including
“volunteer[s] expressly authorized to participate in a publicly sponsored
volunteer program,” representation and indemnification for
acts while the employees were acting within the scope of their public
employment, but not indemnification where the injury or damage
resulted from intentional wrongdoing]; General Municipal Law
[GML] § 50-k(1)(e), (3) [same as to employees of the City of New
York and authorized volunteers]. Should the immunity provisions of
the Executive Law not cover an employee (or an authorized volunteer)
of a municipality or other political subdivision of the state, the
immunity provisions directly applicable to the political subdivisions
themselves may be able to serve as a basis for immunity for their
employees because of the legal obligation of the political subdivisions
to expend public moneys to indemnify the employees. See
Ebert v. New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, 82
N.Y.2d 863, 866 (1993) [holding that HHC’s obligation to indem-
59

§ 1.107 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
nify its employees under section 50-k of the General Municipal Law
makes HHC “the real defendant in interest under the judgment” and
the statutes governing the rate of interest on a judgment to be paid
by HHC should prevail]; Simmons v. New York City Health and Hospitals
Corporation, 71 A.D.3d 410 (1st Dep’t 2010) [same as to statute
of limitations]. See also POL §§ 17(9), 18(11); GML § 50-k(9)
[all providing that the indemnification provisions therein shall not
be construed to impair or restrict any immunity available to any unit,
entity or officer or employee in the public sector provided by any
other provision of law].
[1.107] IX. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATIENT RECORDS
[1.108] A. New York Authority
[1.109] 1. Patient Records Maintained by Health Care Providers
PHL §§ 18(2) [right to access to patient information by “qualified persons”];
18(1)(g) [“qualified person” means subject, parent, guardian or
attorney]; 18(3)(a), (d) [limitations on access by qualified persons];
18(3)(i) [release of patient information is subject to “(iv) any other provisions
of law creating special requirements relating to the release of patient
information”]; 18(6) [record-keeping obligations where release is to other
than a “qualified person”]. See 10 NYCRR §§ 405.10(a)(6) [requiring
hospitals to ensure confidentiality of patients’ records]; 751.7(g) [same as
to clinics]. See also Education Law § 6530(23) [physician’s unauthorized
revealing of personally identifiable information is professional misconduct];
8 NYCRR § 29.1(b)(8) [same for non-physician medical professionals].
And see PHL §§ 2782(4), 2785(2) [special requirements for
disclosure of confidential HIV-related information].
[1.110] 2. Patient Information Contained in Records
of Public Agencies
Personal Privacy Protection Law [applicable to state agencies and entities
(POL § 92(1))]. Public Officers Law § 96(1) [“No agency may disclose
any record or personal information unless such disclosure is: . . . (b)
to those officers and employees of, and to those who contract with, the
agency that maintains the record if such disclosure is necessary to the per-
60

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.110
formance of their official duties pursuant to a purpose of the agency required
to be accomplished by statute or executive order or necessary to
operate a program specifically authorized by law; or . . . (d) to officers or
employees of another governmental unit if each category of information
sought to be disclosed is necessary for the receiving governmental unit to
operate a program specifically authorized by statute and if the use for
which the information is requested is not relevant to the purpose for which
it was collected; or . . . (f) specifically authorized by statute or federal rule
or regulation”]. See also PHL § 206(1)(j) [data received by State Department
of Health for the purpose of certain scientific studies, or through improvement
of quality of medical care through conduction of medical audits,
is confidential]. • New York City: Health Code [24 RCNY] §§ 11.11(a)
[records of cases and contacts and suspect cases and contacts of diseases
and conditions of public health interest reported to the City Department of
Health are confidential]; 11.11(c) [records protected under (a) may be released,
in the discretion of the Department, “to any person when necessary
for the protection of public health”]. See also § 3.25(a) and (b)
[records of Department containing individually identifiable information
are confidential but may be disclosed “to any person when necessary for
the protection of health”]; New York City Charter § 556(d)(2) [information
received by City Health Department in conducting research for purpose
of improving the quality of medical and health care is confidential].
Commentary
Patient health records maintained by health care providers are confidential
under common law. Doe v. Community Health Plan-Kaiser
Corp., 268 A.D.2d 183, 187 (3d Dep’t 2000). Section 18 of the Public
Health Law sets forth the relatively narrow criteria for who is a
“qualified person” entitled to access these records from the health
care provider—principally patients and their authorized representatives—and
the special circumstances when access by such qualified
person may be curtailed. See PHL §§ 18(1)(e), (g); (2)(a), (c); (3)(a),
(d). However, section 18(3)(i) provides that the release of patient
information shall be subject to: “ . . . (iv) any other provisions of law
creating special requirements relating to the release of patient information.”
As set forth in IV(C), supra, there are strict requirements in
the Public Health Law, State Sanitary Code and New York City
61

§ 1.110 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
Health Code for physicians, laboratories, hospitals and local health
officers to identify and report to public health officials cases of communicable
diseases and any other medical conditions that are significant
threats to public health. See 10 NYCRR §§ 2.1, 2.10, 2.12,
2.16; PHL § 2101(1); Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.03(c). See also
PHL § 229 [State Sanitary Code provisions have the force and effect
of law]. These provisions could be read to fall within “other provisions
of law creating special requirements relating to the release of
patient information,” and so remove health providers and health
technicians from the restrictions of section 18 in those circumstances.
Moreover, a specific statute will take precedence over a
general statute, People v. Zephrin, 14 N.Y.3d 296, 301 (2010), and
the above laws directing disclosure to public health officials in specific
instances should govern over the general confidentiality
requirements of PHL § 18. New York law thus would permit
exchange of most patient information between and among health
care personnel and public health officials as required by public
health concerns. See PHL requirements for HIV-related information,
supra. These reporting requirements also are recognized exceptions
to the physician/patient privilege codified in CPLR 4504. See
McKinney’s Cons. Laws of New York, CPLR 4504, Practice Commentaries,
C4504:4, Exceptions.
Where public health officials maintain this patient information in
their own records, it remains confidential to the extent it is not otherwise
required or authorized to be disclosed pursuant to laws governing
the reporting of personal information to protect the public
health. POL § 96(1)(b), (d), (f); Health Code [24 RCNY] § 11.11(c).
See also New York Freedom of Information Law (POL Article 6)
[all public agencies, including those of localities, are not required to
provide access to information which, if disclosed, would constitute
an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. POL §§ 87(2)(b);
89(2)(b)].
62

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.111
[1.111] B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act of 1996
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
1996 [HIPAA] proscribes “individually identified health information . . .
created or received by a health care provider, health plan, employer or
health care clearinghouse” from being disclosed to others without the
written authorization of the individual, except for disclosures for certain
specified purposes, such as treatment, payment and health care operations.
42 U.S.C. § 1320d(6)(A); 45 CFR §§ 164.502, 164.508, 164.510.
The covered health care providers, which include hospitals and physicians,
are those who “transmit any health care information in electronic
form in connection with a transaction covered by this chapter.” 45 CFR
§ 160.102(a).
[1.112] 1. Application to Public Health Officials
45 CFR §§ 164.512(b)(1) [“A covered entity may use or disclose protected
health information without the written authorization of the individual
. . . for the public health activities and purposes described in this
paragraph to: (i) a public health authority that is authorized by law to collect
or receive such information for the purpose of preventing or controlling
disease, injury, or disability, including, but not limited to, . . . the
conduct of public health surveillance, public health investigations, and
public health interventions.”]; 164.512(j) [disclosure permitted when
“necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health
or safety of a person or the public”]; 164.510(b)(4) [disclosure permitted
to a public or private entity authorized to assist in disaster relief efforts
where necessary to notify family members and others of an individual’s
location, condition or death]. See 45 CFR § 164.502(b) [disclosure should
be the “minimum necessary” except in certain circumstances, including
treatment and where the disclosure is required by law]. See also 42 U.S.C.
§ 1320d-7(b) [“Nothing in this part shall be construed to invalidate or
limit the authority, power or procedures established under any [state] law
providing for the reporting of disease or injury, child abuse, birth, or
death, public health surveillance, or public health investigation or intervention.”];
45 CFR § 164.512(a)(1) [no authorization needed for disclosures
that are required by state or local law or rules].
63

§ 1.113 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.113] 2. Application to Court Records
The requirements of HIPAA do not apply to court records, as a court
is not a covered entity subject to those requirements. See 42 U.S.C.
§ 1320d(6)(A) [proscribing only the wrongful disclosure of individually
identifiable health information created or received by “a health care
provider, health plan, employer or health care clearinghouse.”]; 45 CFR
§ 160.103 [description of “covered entities”].
Commentary
The strict requirements of HIPAA that patient information may not
be released without the written authorization of the subject do not
apply to public health activities for the preventing or controlling of
disease or to public health surveillance, investigations or interventions.
In fact, the HIPAA rules specifically allow disclosure of such
information, without the patient’s written authorization, to public
officials and other organizations for various reasons relevant to a
public health emergency.
As to court records, while 45 CFR § 164.512(e) contains special
requirements for covered entities in the production of personal
health information in response to a trial subpoena or discovery
request, once the information becomes part of the court record it is
no longer subject to HIPAA. This information then becomes subject
to the general statutory and common law requirements that court
records are open to the public unless otherwise sealed by the court or
made confidential by statute. In the absence of applications for protective
orders from persons seeking to limit public access to their
health information, courts may sua sponte decide when the public
interest requires that the identities of persons with diseases should
be concealed where litigation concerns public health threats.
[1.114] C. Constitutional Right of Privacy
In addition to the common law and statutory recognition of the confidentiality
of medical records, the courts have recognized a constitutional
right of privacy, which includes an “individual interest in avoiding disclosure
of personal matters.” Whalen v. Roe, 429 U.S. 589, 599 (1977). The
64

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.115
courts have applied this constitutionally protected right to nondisclosure
where a medical condition is especially serious or likely to expose a person
to stigma. See, e.g., Doe v. City of New York, 15 F.3d 264, 267 (2d Cir.
1994) [HIV/AIDS]; Fleming v. State University of New York, 502 F. Supp.
2d 324, 343 (E.D.N.Y. 2007) [sickle cell anemia]; O’Connor v. Pierson,
426 F.3d 187 (2d Cir. 2005) [psychiatric records]. Nevertheless, the right
of privacy of medical information is not absolute but “will vary with the
conditions,” Powell v. Schriver, 175 F.3d 107, 111 (2d Cir. 1999), and
when a protected interest exists, a court will balance the individual’s right
against the government interest in disclosure. Whalen v. Roe, supra, 429
U.S. at 878; O’Connor v. Pierson, supra, 426 F.3d at 201-02.
Commentary
It is unlikely that the disclosures of medical information permitted
by statutes and rules governing responses to public health emergencies
would be vulnerable to constitutional challenge based on a right
to privacy. When courts apply the constitutional balancing test, the
societal interest in addressing the health emergency will generally
outweigh the individual’s interest in privacy.
[1.115] X. OPERATION OF COURTS AMID
PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS
[1.116] A. Emergency Relocation of Court Terms
[1.117] 1. Authority to Relocate
Judiciary Law [Jud. Law] §§ 8(1) [“Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, if an emergency or other exigent circumstance or the imminent
threat thereof prevents the safe and practicable holding of a term of
any court at the location designated by law therefor,” then (a) the Governor
[after consultation with the Chief Judge] may by executive order
appoint another location for the temporary holding of such term if it is a
term of a trial court; or (b) where no action by the Governor, or if it is an
appellate court, “the chief judge or his or her designee (or the presiding
justice of an appellate division or his or her designee [for an appellate
court within that jurisdiction]) may by order appoint another location for
the temporary holding of such term . . . .”]; 8(2) [“To the extent practica-
65

§ 1.118 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
ble, an order pursuant to subdivision one of this section: (a) shall designate
the most proximate location in which such term of court safely and
practically can be held, without limitation based on the judicial department,
judicial district, county, city, town, village or other geographical
district for which such court was established . . . .”]; 8(2)(c) [consultation
requirements]; 8(3) [orders effective for no more than 30 days and may be
reauthorized for successive periods of no more than 30 days].
[1.118] 2. Applicable Law in Relocated Courts
Judiciary Law § 8(4) [“every action and proceeding in such [relocated]
term shall be subject to the same substantive and procedural law as would
have applied had such term not been temporarily relocated”].
[1.119] 3. Cost
Judiciary Law § 8(5) [“the costs of temporarily providing facilities
suitable and sufficient for the transaction of business of such court outside
of such county, city, town or village shall be charges upon the office of
court administration”].
Commentary
In 2009, the Legislature enacted a new section 8 of the Judiciary
Law [2009 N.Y. Laws ch. 263] to replace statutes dating back a century
that had long since faded into obsolescence. New section 8
places in both the Governor and the Chief Judge the authority to
temporarily relocate trial courts in emergencies without being constrained
by local boundaries, with the state paying the costs where
the relocation is to a different locality. Section 8(4) provides that
these relocated courts will continue to function under the same procedures
as if they had never been moved, so that a relocation may
have to address such matters as the feasibility of long-distance jury
selection.
66

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.120
[1.120] B. Case Management in Emergencies
[1.121] 1. Authority of Court Administrators
State Constitution, Article VI, § 28(b) [“The chief administrator, on
behalf of the chief judge, shall supervise the administration and operation
of the unified court system.”]; Jud. Law § 211(1) [“The chief judge, after
consultation with the administrative board, shall establish standards and
administrative policies for general application to the unified court system
throughout the state, including . . . (a) the dispatch of judicial business, the
. . . transfer of judges and causes among the courts of the unified court
system, the assignment and reassignment of administrative functions performed
by judicial and nonjudicial personnel . . . .”]; Jud. Law § 212 [“(1)
The chief administrator of the courts . . . shall have such powers and
duties as may be delegated to him by the chief judge and, in addition, the
following functions, powers and duties . . . (c) Establish the hours, terms
and parts of court, assign judges and justices to them, and make necessary
rules therefor . . . . (2) The chief administrator shall also . . . temporarily
assign judges and justices [between different categories of courts].”]; 22
NYCRR § 80.1(b)(6) [the Chief Administrator shall “adopt administrative
rules for efficient and orderly transaction of business in the trial courts”];
22 NYCRR § 200.11(d)(4) [Criminal cases—superior courts: “The Chief
Administrator may authorize the transfer of any action and any matter
relating to an action from one judge to another in accordance with the
needs of the court.”]; 22 NYCRR § 202.3(c)(5) [Civil cases—superior
courts: “The Chief Administrator may authorize the transfer of any action
or proceeding and any matter relating to an action or proceeding from one
judge to another in accordance with the needs of the court.”].
[1.122] 2. Authority of Judge
Judiciary Law § 2-b(3) [“A court of record has power . . . to devise and
make new process and forms of proceedings, necessary to carry into effect
the powers and jurisdiction possessed by it.”]. See also State Constitution,
Article VI, § 30 [“Nothing herein contained shall prevent the adoption of
regulations by individual courts consistent with the general practice and
procedure as provided by state or general rules.”].
67

§ 1.123 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
[1.123] 3. Authority of Governor
Executive Law § 29-a(1) [“Subject to the state constitution, the federal
constitution and federal statutes and regulations . . . the governor may by
executive order temporarily suspend specific provisions of any statute . . .
during a state disaster emergency.”].
Commentary
The Chief Judge and Chief Administrator of the Courts together
have “complete” administrative authority over the Unified Court
System, including significant flexibility in assigning judges, nonjudicial
personnel and cases to meet court needs. See Met Council,
Inc. v. Crosson, 84 N.Y.2d 328, 335 (1994); Corkum v. Bartlett, 46
N.Y.2d 424, 429 (1979) [“The Chief Judge’s administrative powers
are complete, and the Chief Administrator may employ them fully
when and while and to the extent they have been delegated to him.”].
See also Marthen v. Evans, 83 A.D.2d 415, 418 (4th Dep’t 1981)
[court administrators have broad power to temporarily assign judges
“to enhance judicial efficiency and to promote the public interest”].
While the Legislature, by statute, may impose upon court administrators
specific powers and duties, those administrators “[are] not
restricted to narrow readings of powers expressly conferred by the
statute, but [may exercise] implied powers necessary for the proper
discharge of those broad responsibilities,” which, in turn, include
“reasonable acts on [their] part to further the regulatory scheme.”
Matter of New York State Criminal Defense Lawyers v. Kaye, 96
N.Y.2d 512, 518 (2001). See also People v. Correa, 15 N.Y.3d 213,
223 (2010) [“UCS administrators possess broad express and implied
powers to take whatever actions are necessary for the proper discharge
of their responsibilities.”]; Levenson v. Lippman, 4 N.Y.3d
280, 291 (2005) [court administrators may fill legislative gaps in the
exercise of administrative powers]. In short, during a public health
emergency that affects the operation of the courts, court administrators
have the authority to step in and take whatever reasonable
administrative steps are required to keep the courts operational during
the emergency—as long as these actions are not contrary to
existing law. Where the emergency reduces the availability of judges
68

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.123
and court personnel, those administrative steps may include centralized
hearings, case consolidations, the holding of multiple proceedings
before a single judge, and the adjustment of priorities in the
hearing of cases (especially those arising as a direct result of the
emergency). And where the exigencies of holding isolation and
quarantine hearings for infected individuals may require the movement
of the hearing to a local site other than the courthouse, court
administrators may work with local authorities to do so as well.
Because court administrators remain bound by existing law, the
administrative response to public health emergencies affecting court
operations may have to be supplemented by adjustments to those
laws, especially to the procedural requirements of the Criminal Procedure
Law [CPL] and the CPLR. These adjustments can be made
through the Governor’s power to suspend laws pursuant to a declaration
of emergency. Exec. Law § 29-a(1). The management of cases
by the courts during a public health emergency thus requires a cooperative
effort of the Chief Judge and Chief Administrative Judge
with the Governor—the former to reallocate court resources, and the
Governor to suspend those statutes, consistent with the rights of the
parties to fair hearings, that restrict court administrators from successfully
meeting the challenge of operating the courts during a
disaster emergency. See, e.g., Executive Order No. 113.7, September
12, 2001 [suspending CPLR statutes of limitations and CPL periods
of trial readiness during the emergency caused by the closing of
courts and destruction of law offices in New York County as a result
of the 9/11 attacks]; Executive Order 113.28, October 4, 2001 [reinstating
statutes of limitations except for persons “directly affected
by the disaster emergency”].
Should court administrators have to take steps that include the
centralization of hearings and the consolidation of cases, the judges
hearing cases under those conditions have broad authority to devise
court procedures to facilitate the hearing of those cases. Section
2-b(3) of the Judiciary Law permits judges “to devise and make new
process and forms of proceedings,” and the courts have cited this
statute, together with a judge’s inherent rule-making powers as
recognized in section 30 of Article VI of the State Constitution, in
69

§ 1.124 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
upholding a judge’s adapting procedures to the needs of the court as
long as the new procedures are “consistent with general practice as
provided by statute.” People v. Ricardo B., 73 N.Y.2d 228, 232
(1989) [trial court has authority to empanel two juries, despite clear
statutory references to a single jury and no statutory authorization
for multiple juries]. See id. at 233 [“the courts may adopt new
procedures which are fair and which facilitate the performance of
their responsibilities”].
[1.124] C. Remote Appearances
[1.125] 1. Legislative Authorization
CPL § 182.20(1) [court may dispense with the personal appearance of
a criminal defendant “except an appearance at a hearing or trial” and may
“conduct an electronic appearance” (in certain listed counties) with the
authorization of the Chief Administrator and the consent of the
defendant]; 22 NYCRR Part 106 [rules implementing § 182.20]; CPL
§ 65.10(2) [when a court declares a child witness to be “vulnerable,” it
shall “authorize the taking of the testimony of the vulnerable child
witness from the testimonial room by means of live, two-way closedcircuit
television”].
[1.126] 2. Authority of Judge
Judiciary Law § 2-b(3) [“A court of record has power . . . to devise and
make new process and forms of proceedings, necessary to carry into effect
the powers and jurisdiction possessed by it.”]. See also State Constitution,
Article VI, § 30 [“Nothing herein contained shall prevent the adoption of
regulations by individual courts consistent with the general practice and
procedure as provided by state or general rules.”].
Commentary
The constitutional and statutory authority of judges to devise special
procedures for the hearing of cases in public health emergencies (see
B, above) extends to procedures permitting remote appearances in
situations where a quarantine or other health-related restriction may
prevent litigants, attorneys or witnesses from physically appearing
70

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.126
in court. As long as a statute does not specifically foreclose or otherwise
control the use of remote appearances, the courts “may fashion
necessary procedures consistent with constitutional, statutory and
decisional law” to permit remote appearances. People v. Wrotten, 14
N.Y.3d 33, 37-38 (2009) [upholding video trial appearance of witness
in a criminal case who was too ill to travel to New York from
California, notwithstanding the existence in the CPL of statutes
authorizing video appearances for vulnerable child witnesses and
criminal defendants and no statutes addressing video appearances
for other witnesses].
Remote appearances in criminal cases do not violate the Confrontation
Clause. United States Constitution, Sixth Amendment; New
York Constitution, Article I, section 6 [“In any trial in any court
whatever the party accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in
person and with counsel as in civil actions and shall be informed of
the nature and cause of the accusation and be confronted with the
witnesses against him or her.”]. Courts have permitted video appearances
where a fact-specific analysis of a particular case shows that a
denial of “physical, face-to-face confrontation” is “necessary to further
an important public policy” and “the reliability of the testimony
is otherwise assured.” People v. Wrotten, supra, 14 N.Y.3d at 39,
quoting Maryland v. Craig, 497 U.S. 836, 850 (1990). The Court of
Appeals in Wrotten upheld a live two-way video appearance by a
witness as “reliable”—because it preserved all the other elements of
the confrontation right, including testimony under oath, opportunity
for contemporaneous cross-examination, and the opportunity for the
judge, jury and defendant to view the witness’s demeanor. Id. And
the public policy requirement was satisfied notwithstanding that the
public policy was not codified in statute. Id. at 39. The Court of
Appeals concluded: “We agree that the public policy of justly
resolving criminal cases while at the same time protecting the wellbeing
of a witness can require live two-way video testimony in the
rare case where a key witness cannot physically travel to court in
New York and where, as here, defendant’s confrontation rights have
been minimally impaired.” Id. at 40.
71

§ 1.127 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
The exercise of a judge’s authority to permit remote appearances
remains governed by statutes that address specific areas of testimony.
Insofar as the defendant in a criminal case is concerned, CPL
§ 182.20(1) authorizes such appearances “except an appearance at a
hearing or trial” (and requires the consent of the defendant for any
such remote appearance). Were a public health emergency to lead to
a need for a criminal defendant to appear remotely at a trial, and
assuming that the remote appearance satisfied the requirements of
the Confrontation Clause, the appearance could be had only if the
Governor exercised his or her power during a state disaster emergency
to suspend CPL § 182.20.
The Confrontation Clause, by its terms, does not apply to civil cases,
and the courts have found no absolute right to confrontation in civil
trials. See Pope v. Pope, 198 A.D.2d 406 (2d Dep’t 1993) [no right
for prisoner to appear personally at civil trial in which he or she is a
party]. Civil trials are instead governed by general principles of due
process, and a denial of confrontation would be one element in a
determination of whether a party received a fair trial. See, e.g., Beeley
v. Spencer, 309 A.D.2d 1303, 1305-06 (4th Dep’t 2003) [examining
impact on fairness of personal injury trial of statements of
eyewitnesses being introduced without their testimony]. Issues of
remote appearances in civil trials due to public health emergencies
may best be handled by obtaining the consent of the parties.
[1.127] D. Protection of Court Personnel
[No applicable statutes or rules]
Commentary
Outbreaks of contagious diseases can put judges and nonjudicial
court personnel at risk if the participants in court proceedings have
those contagious diseases. One option is to bar the presence of such
infected individuals from the courthouse. This can be done by
adjourning proceedings involving litigants who are known to have
an infectious disease, or by getting infected individuals to voluntarily
absent themselves physically from the courtroom where the pro-
72

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL § 1.128
ceeding is scheduled and arranging for their testimony either by
interrogatories or by remote appearance. See C, above.
Where the presence of a participant who has a contagious disease
occurs, and the court determines that the hearing of the case cannot
be postponed, protocols are currently in place for addressing the
health threat. Where the disease is transmitted by a blood-borne
pathogen, court personnel may wear protective gloves; where the
disease is transmitted by an air-borne pathogen, court personnel may
wear respirators. This equipment is already available at many courthouses.
However, the wearing of respirators by the multiple participants
in a courtroom setting would no doubt be disruptive to the
proceeding, and courts may have to explore alternatives, such as
requiring the infectious person to wear the respirator or isolating an
infectious litigant in a separate room with an audio-visual connection
to the courtroom. Cf. Illinois v. Allen, 397 U.S. 337, 342-43
(1970) [the right to be present at trial is not violated where a trial
judge removed a criminal defendant from the courtroom for disruptive
behavior].
Screening of members of the public for contagious diseases is not
practicable. If an epidemic of a contagious disease is so severe that
members of the public generally would all be susceptible to infection,
then the best approach, short of adjourning the case, may be to
relocate the courthouse away from the infected area. Should a court
proceeding be held entirely electronically, with no participants or
members of the public physically appearing at the courthouse, there
must be, at the very least, a complete audio-visual reproduction of
the proceeding available to the public. See Jud. Law § 4 [“The sittings
of every court within this state shall be public, and every citizen
may freely attend the same . . . .”].
[1.128] XI. CONCLUSION
The potential for a public health emergency is a grave concern to all
citizens. Public health professionals, attorneys and judges are deeply concerned
with the legal issues brought about by the chaos, confusion and ad
hoc responses that can occur in an emergency situation. As we learned in
73

§ 1.128 NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
the World Trade Center disaster, having clear lines of authority, areas of
responsibility and chains of command go far to protect the victims, the
public at large and the rule of law. It is hoped that this Manual will help
judges, lawyers and public health officials and professionals in their
efforts to navigate the myriad statutes and rules, many of which were
adopted at a time when recent emergencies could not have been foreseen,
and apply the constitutional principles that balance individual rights with
societal health requirements.
74

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
CASES
Addington v. Texas...................................................... 23
Agins v. City of Tiburon.............................................. 40
Andrus v. Allard.......................................................... 41
Antoinette R., City of New York v. .............................. 13, 23
Beatie v. City of New York.......................................... 13
Beeley v. Spencer........................................................ 72
Best v. Bellevue Hospital ............................................ 13
Best v. St. Vincent’s Hospital...................................... 13
Bowditch v. Boston ..................................................... 42
Bradley v. Crowell...................................................... 23
Burger, New York v..................................................... 39
Camara v. Municipal Court........................................ 38, 39
Caristo v. Sanzone ...................................................... 59
Cheesebrough, In re.................................................... 22, 42
Compaignie Francaise v. Louisiana State
Board of Health...................................................... 39
Corkum v. Bartlett ...................................................... 68
Correa, People v......................................................... 23, 68
Crayton v. Larabee ..................................................... 14, 59
Daly v. Port Authority................................................. 22
Darling, People v........................................................ 23
Doe v. City of New York ............................................. 65
Doe v. Community Health Plan-Kaiser Corp............. 61
Doe, City of New York v. ............................................ 13, 23
Earls, Board of Education v. ...................................... 39
Ebert v. New York City Health and Hospitals
Corporation............................................................ 59
Eichner v. Dillon......................................................... 32
Fleming v. State University of New York.................... 65
Gates v. Prudential Insurance Co. ............................. 14
Gazza v. New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation.................................. 41
Gilbert v. Horn............................................................ 40
75

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
Griffen v. Wisconsin.................................................... 39
Grossman v. Baumgartner.......................................... 5
Hellenic American Neighborhood Action
Committee v. City of New York .............................. 40
Hodel v. Virginia Surface Mining &
Reclamation Association ........................................ 40
Hudson v. Palmer ....................................................... 40
Illinois v. Allen............................................................ 73
Indianapolis, City of v. Edmond ................................. 30
Jacobson v. Massachusetts ......................................... 33, 39
Joyner v. Dumpson ..................................................... 13
K.L., In re.................................................................... 31, 32
Keystone Bituminous Coal Association v.
DeBenedictis........................................................... 42
Knights, United States v.............................................. 30, 38
Levenson v. Lippman .................................................. 68
Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc. ..................................... 41
Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council .................. 41, 42
MacWade v. Kelly....................................................... 30
Marthen v. Evans ........................................................ 68
Maryland v. Craig....................................................... 71
Mathews v. Eldridge ................................................... 13
McLean v. City of New York ....................................... 59
Mendez v. Dinkins....................................................... 22
Met Council, Inc. v. Crosson ...................................... 68
Mincey v. Arizona ....................................................... 39
More, People v............................................................ 29
New York State Criminal Defense Lawyers,
Matter of v. Kaye .................................................... 68
Nicholas v. Goord....................................................... 29, 30
North American Cold Storage v. City of Chicago ...... 39
O’Connor v. Donaldson.............................................. 13
O’Connor v. Pierson................................................... 65
76

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Parratt v. Taylor ......................................................... 40
Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers v.
Board of Education ................................................ 29, 30
Pell, Matter of v. Board of Education......................... 24
Penn Central Transportation Co. v.
City of New York .................................................... 41
Pope v. Pope ............................................................... 72
Powell v. Schriver....................................................... 65
Prince v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts ............... 33
Project Release v. Prevost .......................................... 13, 14, 24, 25
Putnam Lake Community v. Deputy Commissioner ... 22
Ricardo B., People v. .................................................. 70
Ritterband v. Axelrod.................................................. 32
Rivers v. Katz.............................................................. 31, 32
Sampson, Matter of..................................................... 32
Schmerber v. California.............................................. 29
Shelton v. Tucker ........................................................ 13
Simmons v. New York City Health and
Hospitals Corporation............................................ 60
Smith v. O’Connor...................................................... 40
Soldal v. Cook County ................................................ 39
Storar, Matter of ......................................................... 23, 31, 32
Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council v.
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency .......................... 41, 42
Tenenbaum v. Williams............................................... 30
United States v. United States District Court ............. 38
Utica, City of v. New York State
Health Department................................................. 22
Vitek v. Jones .............................................................. 14
Whalen v. Roe ............................................................. 64
World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation, In re.... 22, 53
Wrotten, People v........................................................ 71
Wyoming v. Houghton ................................................ 30
Zephrin, People v........................................................ 62
Zinermon v. Burch ...................................................... 13
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NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
STATUTES, RULES & REGULATIONS
FEDERAL
United States Code
Title Section
42 233(p).................................................... 58
247d-6d ................................................. 58
264......................................................... 6
5121....................................................... 6
1320d(6)(A) .......................................... 63, 64
1320d-7(b)............................................. 63
1395dd................................................... 55
14501..................................................... 58
14503..................................................... 58
Code of Federal Regulations
Title Section
42 70.2........................................................ 6
489.24(1)............................................... 55
45 160.102(a) ............................................. 63
160.103.................................................. 64
164.502.................................................. 63
164.508.................................................. 63
164.510.................................................. 63
164.512.................................................. 63, 64
NEW YORK STATE
Agriculture & Markets Law
Section 16(27)...................................................... 43
20............................................................. 43
72............................................................. 43, 44
76............................................................. 44
85............................................................. 43, 44
78

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Civil Practice Law & Rules
Article 78 ............................................................ 21, 24, 40, 46
Section 4504 ........................................................ 62
7002 ........................................................ 20
7009(c).................................................... 20
7010(a).................................................... 20
7803 ........................................................ 20, 24
7804(b).................................................... 20
County Law
Article 18-B ........................................................ 25
Criminal Procedure Law
Section 65.10(2)................................................... 70
182.20 ..................................................... 70, 72
Education Law
Section 6530(23).................................................. 60
Eminent Domain Procedure Law
Section 201 .......................................................... 36
206(D)..................................................... 36, 38
402(B) ..................................................... 36, 38
708 .......................................................... 41
Executive Law
Article 2-B .......................................................... 46
Section 20 ............................................................ 46–48, 52, 53
21 ............................................................ 49, 51
22(3)........................................................ 49
23 ............................................................ 46, 47, 49
23-a(6)..................................................... 56, 58
24 ............................................................ 48, 49, 53, 54
25 ............................................................ 47, 56, 58
26 ............................................................ 47
26(3)........................................................ 56, 58
28 ............................................................ 49, 53
79

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
29............................................................. 49
29-a ......................................................... 50, 54, 68, 69
29-b ......................................................... 47, 48, 50, 52,
56–58
General Construction Law
Section 28-b ......................................................... 19
General Municipal Law
Section 50-k ......................................................... 59, 60
Judiciary Law
Section 2-b(3)....................................................... 67, 69, 70
4............................................................... 73
8............................................................... 65, 66
35............................................................. 25
211(1)...................................................... 67
212........................................................... 67
New York State Constitution
Article Section
I 6............................................................... 71
7(a) .......................................................... 40
12............................................................. 29
VI 7(a) .......................................................... 22
28(b)........................................................ 67
30............................................................. 67, 69, 70
N.Y. Comp. Codes, Rules & Regs.
Title Part/Section
1 52.1.......................................................... 43
8 29.1(b)(8) ................................................ 60
10 2.1............................................................ 62
2.1(a) ....................................................... 8, 9
2.2(e) ....................................................... 4
2.5............................................................ 9
2.6............................................................ 10, 34, 37
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
2.7 ........................................................... 26
2.10 ......................................................... 9, 62
2.12 ......................................................... 9, 62
2.16 ......................................................... 62
2.16(a)..................................................... 5, 10, 34
2.25 ......................................................... 7, 12, 34
2.27 ......................................................... 10
2.28 ......................................................... 27
2.29 ......................................................... 11, 15
2.30 ......................................................... 12, 27
2.40 ......................................................... 27
2.42 ......................................................... 27
2.43 ......................................................... 27
8.1 ........................................................... 5
8.2 ........................................................... 35
8.3 ........................................................... 35
8.4 ........................................................... 5
11.1 ......................................................... 4
55-2.13(d)(5)........................................... 10
55-2.14 .................................................... 10
66-1.10 .................................................... 32
pts70–75.................................................. 3
pt76 ......................................................... 3
405.10(a)(6) ............................................ 60
751.7(g)................................................... 60
14 527.8 ....................................................... 31
22 80.1(b)(6) ................................................ 67
pt106 ....................................................... 70
200.11(d)(4) ............................................ 67
202.3(c)(5) .............................................. 67
Public Health Law
Article 13 ............................................................ 2, 37
21 ............................................................ 2
22 ............................................................ 2
23 ............................................................ 2
Section 12 ............................................................ 16
12-a ......................................................... 17
12-b ......................................................... 17, 18, 21
16 ............................................................ 5, 17, 53
18 ............................................................ 60–62
206(1)(b) ................................................. 5
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NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
206(1)(d) ................................................. 33
206(1)(f).................................................. 5, 16, 22
206(1)(j) .................................................. 61
206(1)(l) .................................................. 28
206(2)...................................................... 34
206(4)(c) ................................................. 16
220........................................................... 2
225........................................................... 2
228........................................................... 2, 8
229........................................................... 2, 17, 62
302........................................................... 4
308........................................................... 4
308(d)...................................................... 15
308(e) ...................................................... 15
309........................................................... 15, 17, 18
312........................................................... 4
324(1)(e) ................................................. 5, 15, 17, 22
340........................................................... 4
356........................................................... 4
401........................................................... 36, 38
402(B)(6)................................................. 36
613........................................................... 28
1301......................................................... 5, 34
1302......................................................... 5
1303......................................................... 34, 37
1305......................................................... 35
1306......................................................... 35
1306(1).................................................... 42
1309......................................................... 2, 35
2100(1).................................................... 8, 11, 12, 15, 28,
29, 33, 37
2100(2).................................................... 15
2100(2)(a) ............................................... 11, 15, 26, 28, 29
2100(2)(b) ............................................... 11, 33, 37
2101(1).................................................... 9, 62
2102(1).................................................... 10
2103......................................................... 5
2110......................................................... 2
2120......................................................... 19, 21–26
2123......................................................... 16, 19
2124......................................................... 20, 24
2125......................................................... 2
2130......................................................... 2
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
2141 ........................................................ 45
2143 ........................................................ 45
2144 ........................................................ 45
2145 ........................................................ 45
2146 ........................................................ 2
2153 ........................................................ 2
2164 ........................................................ 2, 28
2164(9).................................................... 33
2165 ........................................................ 28
2201(1)(f)................................................ 28
2300 ........................................................ 27, 28
2301 ........................................................ 27, 28
2302 ........................................................ 27
2303(1).................................................... 29
2782(4).................................................... 60
2785(2).................................................... 60
Public Officers Law
Article 6 .............................................................. 62
Section 17 ............................................................ 59, 60
18 ............................................................ 59, 60
87(2)(b) ................................................... 62
89(2)(b) ................................................... 62
92(1)........................................................ 60
96(1)........................................................ 60, 62
Unconsolidated Laws
Section 9103 ........................................................ 51, 57
9121(3).................................................... 51
9122 ........................................................ 51
9123 ........................................................ 51
9129 ........................................................ 52
9193(1).................................................... 56, 58
NEW YORK CITY
N.Y. City Administrative Code
Section 17-114 ..................................................... 35
17-142 ..................................................... 35
17-145 ..................................................... 35, 37
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NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
17-159 ..................................................... 34
17-160–17-162........................................ 35
17-165 ..................................................... 35
N.Y. City Charter
Section 551........................................................... 4
556........................................................... 2
556(c) ...................................................... 3
556(c)(2) ................................................. 35
556(d)(2) ................................................. 61
558........................................................... 3
560........................................................... 42, 50
562........................................................... 17, 18
Rules of the City of New York (Title 24)
Article 3............................................................... 3, 5
11............................................................. 3, 5
13............................................................. 10
Section 3.01(a) ..................................................... 36
3.01(d)..................................................... 50
3.01(e) ..................................................... 51
3.03.......................................................... 35–37
3.05(a) ..................................................... 17
3.11(a) ..................................................... 17
3.25.......................................................... 61
11.01........................................................ 7, 11
11.03........................................................ 8
11.03(a) ................................................... 9
11.03(b)................................................... 9
11.03(c) ................................................... 9, 10, 62
11.03(e) ................................................... 10, 34, 37
11.05(a) ................................................... 10
11.11........................................................ 61, 62
11.17........................................................ 8, 10, 11, 15
11.19........................................................ 27
11.21........................................................ 27–29
11.23........................................................ 23, 27
11.23(a) ................................................... 8, 11, 15, 16, 19
11.23(c) ................................................... 16
11.23(d)................................................... 26
11.23(e) ................................................... 18
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
11.23(f) ................................................... 19, 21, 23, 25
11.23(g)................................................... 16, 19, 24, 25
11.23(k)................................................... 8, 15, 19, 21, 28,
29
11.23(l).................................................... 32
11.25 ....................................................... 45
11.27 ....................................................... 45
85

BIOGRAPHIES
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Robert Abrams, Esq., is a founding partner and currently of counsel
to the health law firm of Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman,
Greenberg, Formato & Einiger, LLP. He is the creator and co-editor of the
Legal Manual for New York Physicians and the editor-in-chief of Guardianship
Practice in New York State. He is a graduate of New York Law
School.
Hon. Richard T. Andrias serves as an Associate Justice of the Appellate
Division, First Department. He has written and lectured on the legal
aspects of science and public health issues and is an Advanced Science
Technology and Resources (ASTAR) fellow, a United States Justice
Department-financed Life Science Program for State Judges. He is a graduate
of Columbia Law School.
Barbara A. Asheld, Esq., is counsel to Nixon Peabody LLP. She is the
former Director of the Bureau of House Counsel in the Division of Legal
Affairs of the New York State Department of Health and has served as
acting counsel to the state Board of Professional Medical Conduct. She is
a graduate of Albany Law School.
Holly M. Dellenbaugh, Esq., is a Senior Attorney with the New York
State Department of Health’s Division of Legal Affairs. She is a graduate
of Fordham Law School.
Justin D. Pfeiffer, Esq., is a Senior Attorney in the New York State
Department of Health’s Division of Legal Affairs. He is a graduate of
Cornell Law School.
Robert N. Swidler, Esq., is General Counsel to Northeast Health, a
not-for-profit health care system in New York's Capital Region. He was
previously Counsel to the New York State Office of Mental Health, Assistant
Counsel to Governor Mario M. Cuomo, and Staff Counsel to the New
York State Task Force on Life and the Law. He is a graduate of Columbia
Law School.
Hon. Shirley Troutman is a New York State Supreme Court Justice.
She is also an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York at
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NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL MANUAL
Buffalo Law School and is an Advanced Science Technology and
Resource (ASTAR) fellow, a United States Department of Justicefinanced
Life Science Program for State Judges. She is a graduate of
Albany Law School.
Roslyn Windholz, Esq., is Deputy General Counsel for Health in the
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She is a graduate
of Touro Law School.
Ronald P. Younkins, Esq., is Chief of Operations of the New York
State Office of Court Administration and oversees the emergency preparedness
program for the New York State Unified Court System. He is a
graduate of Rutgers University Law School.
Michael Colodner, Esq., Counsel to the Committee, is Special Counsel
to the New York State Office of Court Administration. He previously
served as Counsel to that Office. He is a graduate of Columbia Law
School.
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